Tacloban, Philippines

Capital City

With a population of 259,353, Tacloban is the largest city in the Eastern Visayas region, but it's no easy place to live. The tax burden is heavy, bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and the city has suffered repeated natural disasters, including the devastating Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 that left over 6,000 dead. Yet Tacloban remains the economic center of the region, with a focus on agriculture, commerce, and tourism that has driven a rapid recovery since the storm. For those who can handle the challenges, Tacloban may be an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a city on the rebound.