Mymensingh, Bangladesh

Capital City

Mymensingh sits on the Brahmaputra River, a two-hour drive north of Dhaka. The city feels dense — sidewalks crammed with rickshaws, markets spilling onto streets. But it’s also Bangladesh’s highest major city at 19 meters above sea level, which means fewer monsoon floods than coastal areas.

Healthcare draws medical tourists, but expats will find English-speaking doctors scarce outside major hospitals. The city’s educational institutions anchor daily life, with students flooding cafes and bookshops. Crossing the Gobrakura Land Port to Meghalaya is straightforward, but Indian visas require patience.

Mymensingh works for budget-conscious expats who can handle the chaos. It’s not for those needing polished infrastructure or a large Western community.