Zhukovsky, Russia

Zhukovsky is a Russian airport town with a population of just 106,000. While it boasts a new international airport capable of handling up to 10.8 million passengers annually, the reality is that moving here comes with significant challenges. The bureaucratic headaches of getting your affairs in order can be a persistent nuisance, and the airport's history as a Soviet-era military testing site means safety incidents like the 2019 bird strike emergency landing are not uncommon. With no direct rail link to Moscow, the 64-minute bus commute is a daily grind. This airport town is best suited for those with a high tolerance for red tape and a stomach for occasional aviation drama.