Brega (Marsa Al-burayqah), Libya

With a population of just 13,000, Brega is a small, industrial town on Libya's Gulf of Sidra - hardly the vibrant cultural hub many foreigners dream of. The town is dominated by an oil refinery and pipeline, with a nearby university providing some additional activity. But make no mistake, this is a place defined by its strategic energy assets, not its livability. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and the town's shifting front lines during the Libyan Civil War underscore the security challenges. For those drawn by the lure of Libya's vast oil wealth, Brega may be worth a look. But for the average expat, the gritty reality here is a far cry from the glamorous Middle Eastern lifestyle some imagine.