Tajikistan

A mountain country where the Pamirs take up most of the territory and Dushanbe remains the only large city. Prices are the lowest in the region: rent, food and transport cost little, while imports and electronics are expensive. Summers are hot in the valleys, winters freezing and snowy in the mountains, and the high roads close for half the year. Russian is widely used, but healthcare, internet and air links are limited, and long trips inside the country need preparation.