Kaka, Turkmenistan

Capital City

This provincial capital of 33,315 people is hardly the glamorous expat destination some might imagine. The Tsarist-era railway station and Soviet-era bureaucracy are persistent headaches, while the city's location along the arid Trans-Caspian corridor offers little in the way of natural beauty or amenities. With just a single dependent rural village, Kaka feels insular and remote, a far cry from the sophisticated urban centers that many foreign residents crave.

Those seeking an authentic, if rough-around-the-edges, Central Asian experience may find Kaka suits their tastes. But for the average American seeking a smooth transition abroad, this unassuming city offers little appeal.