Nalaikh (Nalayh), Mongolia

Living in Nalaikh (Nalayh) is a practical affair, centered around a modest mosque opened in 2013 with funding from Turkey. The ground floor houses a cultural center and the local Muslim association's offices, while the upper level is a prayer hall for the Kazakhs' Sunni Islamic community.

Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the mosque was officially inaugurated by the Turkish Prime Minister. The climate can also be a challenge, with long, frigid winters. However, the city provides a home for a small but tight-knit religious minority in this predominantly Buddhist nation.

Nalaikh (Nalayh) is unlikely to appeal to the average expat seeking an exotic, cosmopolitan hub. But for those seeking a simple, traditional way of life in Mongolia, it may be a suitable, if unexciting, destination.