Dahab, Egypt

Living in Dahab feels like a permanent vacation with a side of reality checks. The rent is laughably cheap by Western standards—$129 gets you a one-bedroom in the center—but don’t expect luxury. You’ll trade modern amenities for a laid-back, barefoot lifestyle where Wi-Fi is spotty and power outages aren’t uncommon. The expat scene revolves around dive shops and beach cafes, but groceries are limited and imported goods cost double.

Bureaucracy here moves at the speed of a camel caravan. Opening a bank account requires a notarized lease (good luck finding a notary) and endless back-and-forth with clerks who barely speak English. The Bedouin-run taxis overcharge tourists but locals know the real rates. For 4,479 people, it’s surprisingly transient—digital nomads come for the Red Sea views but leave when the summer heat hits 110°F with no AC.