Sīrjān, Iran

Sirjan is a working-class Iranian city where life revolves around pistachio farming and small-scale trade. The windcatchers—ancient desert cooling systems—still function in some older neighborhoods, a reminder of how locals adapt to the scorching summers. Don't expect expat amenities; this is a place where you'll need Farsi and patience for bureaucracy.

University students give the city some youthful energy, but most foreigners here are either visiting engineers or passing through to Kerman. The 1BR rent price tells the story: you're paying for barebones housing, not convenience. Dust storms from the surrounding deserts can shut down outdoor activity for days.