Pryluki, Ukraine

Forget the postcard views - living in Pryluki, Ukraine is a gritty, bureaucratic slog. The city's main football cup competition was interrupted for 3 years during World War II, and even after it was restored, the Soviet authorities downgraded it to a mere regional qualification round. Persistent headaches like these are the norm, not the exception. Pryluki may have hosted the final of this cup competition 8 times, but the real winners are those who steer clear of its stifling bureaucracy. This is a city best suited for the most resilient and thick-skinned expats.