Mahdia, Tunisia

Capital City

With a population of just 79,545, Mahdia is hardly the bustling metropolis many envision when moving abroad. The former Fatimid capital's glory days as a regional trading hub have long since faded, leaving behind a sleepy coastal town more reliant on fishing and oil work than any grand commercial ambitions. And while the city's well-preserved Fatimid mosque and Roman ruins offer glimpses into its storied past, the persistent bureaucracy and decaying infrastructure are a frustrating reality for modern residents.

Mahdia's strategic location on the Tunisian coast may have once made it a prized possession, but today it feels more like an economic backwater - a far cry from the thriving port city described by medieval chroniclers. Unless you're drawn to the city's modest charms and can tolerate the bureaucratic headaches, Mahdia is unlikely to satisfy the expectations of most expats seeking an exotic new home.