Alcorcón, Spain

A sprawling Madrid bedroom community where housing costs 40% less than the capital, this industrial-turned-suburban outpost houses 175,719 residents just 13km southwest of Madrid proper. The flat landscape sits at 711 meters above sea level, connected to the city via three metro lines and numerous bus routes.

What began as a tiny rural settlement exploded in the 1960s into a major suburban hub. While its agricultural roots have virtually vanished (contributing just 0.04% of local GDP), the economy now revolves around services, transportation and light industry. The area made headlines in 2013 when selected as the site for the failed Eurovegas casino project. Today, two hospitals and a satellite campus of Rey Juan Carlos University anchor the health and education sectors.

Local landmarks include the Gothic Revival San José de Valderas Castles and the 16th-century Santa María la Blanca church. Sports fans follow AD Alcorcón in Spain's Segunda División football league. While not a tourist destination, the city maintains international partnerships with cities across Cuba, El Salvador, Peru, Morocco and Palestine.