Khouribga, Morocco

Capital City

With a population of just 191,807, Khouribga is far from the bustling metropolis many aspire to when moving abroad. The city's economy is heavily reliant on phosphate mining, a lucrative but demanding industry that has shaped its character. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and the hot-summer Mediterranean climate can be unforgiving. However, the city does offer some perks, like a developing industrial sector and a network of banks and services. Whether Khouribga is the right fit depends on your tolerance for a relatively small, resource-extraction-focused city and its administrative quirks.