11 Most Dangerous Cities To Live In The World

From toxic air and unrelenting cold to geological volatility and utter isolation, these locales stretch the limits of what it means to live somewhere. As reported by Architectural Digest, here are 11 places where survival isn't just a way of life—it's a daily necessity.

Set against the serene backdrop of Lake Taal, these communities live under constant threat from one of the planet’s most active volcanic systems. Just 50 kilometers south of Manila, the Taal Volcano is known for violent eruptions, tremors, and even volcanic tsunamis. The 2020 eruption displaced over 100,000 people and blanketed nearby cities in ash. Despite the danger, residents remain, drawn by fertile land and proximity to urban opportunities.

Rising nearly 17,000 feet above sea level, La Rinconada is Earth’s highest permanent settlement. Life here is grueling—oxygen is scarce, temperatures stay below freezing year-round, and basic infrastructure is virtually nonexistent. Still, the lure of gold keeps thousands flocking to its unregulated mines, where mercury poisoning and harsh conditions are part of everyday life in this mountain town often described as “hell in the clouds.”

Deep in Siberia lies Yakutsk, the coldest major city on the planet. In winter, temperatures regularly plummet below -40°C, cold enough to freeze exposed skin in seconds. Homes are elevated to prevent melting the permafrost, and car engines must run continuously to avoid freezing. Yet, over 340,000 residents have adapted to this harsh climate with remarkable ingenuity and tenacity.

Located above the Arctic Circle, Norilsk is isolated, industrial, and heavily polluted. Established as a Soviet mining outpost, it's now one of the most contaminated cities in the world. Residents endure toxic air, acid rain, and black snow. The 45-day polar night adds to the bleakness. As a closed city, entry is restricted, making life here as tightly controlled as it is extreme.

Situated in the Danakil Depression, Dallol holds the record for the highest average annual temperature on Earth. Its alien landscape—marked by sulfur springs, acidic pools, and geysers—feels like a place humans were never meant to inhabit. While now largely abandoned, nomadic salt miners still navigate its blistering heat and chemical-laden air to earn a living.

Frozen and remote, Ittoqqortoormiit is one of the most isolated settlements on Earth. Home to roughly 350 people, it is accessible only by boat or helicopter—and only during short seasonal windows. Winters bring months of darkness, biting cold, and roaming polar bears. With the nearest neighboring village 300 miles away, residents live on the edge of the inhabitable world.

This volcanic island south of Tokyo lives under a constant veil of risk. Since a major eruption in 2000, residents are required to carry gas masks due to persistent sulfur dioxide emissions. Gas detectors and warning sirens are part of daily life, a stark reminder that this island remains geologically restless. Still, a community endures, clinging to home despite the ever-present danger.

Decades after the 1986 nuclear disaster, a handful of elderly residents have returned to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. They live without modern utilities, growing food in radioactive soil and surviving on resilience and routine. Though the area remains highly contaminated, these returnees have chosen familiarity over fear, reclaiming their homes in the shadow of catastrophe.

Covering less than a square mile yet home to nearly a million people, Dharavi is one of the most densely populated places on Earth. Cramped conditions, inadequate sanitation, and fire hazards create an environment where disaster is never far. But amid the adversity, Dharavi thrives as a powerhouse of informal industry—producing goods worth billions and showcasing the spirit of survival in urban India.

Located on King George Island, this Chilean settlement is less a town and more a survival station. Prospective long-term residents must have their appendixes removed before arriving, since medical emergencies in winter are nearly impossible to address. Families face bone-chilling winds, months of darkness, and extreme isolation—living in prefab homes on the world’s coldest continent.

The northernmost city in the U.S. endures long stretches of darkness, eroding coastlines, and crumbling permafrost. Utqiaġvik faces the frontlines of climate change, with infrastructure strained by thawing ground and retreating sea ice. Supplies must be flown in, and the community braves extreme isolation. Still, life persists here—quiet, strong, and deeply rooted in tradition.