Cugir, Romania

This 19,473-person town in Romania's Transylvania region is hardly the scenic mountain retreat many expats fantasize about. The legacy of heavy industry looms large, with the Cugir Arms Factory dominating the local economy. And the bureaucratic headaches of navigating Romania's notoriously convoluted paperwork are a persistent challenge. On the plus side, the town's humid continental climate is mild, avoiding the extremes found elsewhere in the country. Overall, Cugir is best suited for those drawn to its industrial roots and willing to put up with the red tape.