Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Capital City

With a population of 1.2 million, Dushanbe is a rapidly developing capital that has shed its Soviet past, but not without some growing pains. The tax burden is heavy, and the aging water infrastructure can leave residents without heat during frigid winters. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, though the city's hydroelectric power and expanding economy provide some upsides. Overall, Dushanbe is a city for the intrepid, offering opportunity amid the challenges of modern urbanization in Central Asia.