Skelleftea, Sweden

Capital City

With a population of just 39,146, Skelleftea is a small, industrial city in northern Sweden - a far cry from the cosmopolitan hubs many expats dream of. The mining and power companies that dominate the local economy provide steady work, but the climate is unforgiving, with long, snowy winters and limited sunshine. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as Skelleftea remains one of the largest Swedish cities without passenger rail service.

While the city is a hockey hotspot, hosting a perennial championship team, its cultural offerings are limited. Skelleftea is best suited for hardy Scandinavian types unphased by isolation and able to endure the punishing subarctic weather.