Aliança, Brazil

At just over 37,000 residents, Aliança is a sleepy backwater that offers little to the average expat. The National Liberation Alliance that once stirred political passions here has long since faded, leaving behind a persistent bureaucratic headache for anyone seeking to put down roots. While the local communists and military officers who founded the organization in the 1930s had grand visions, today's Aliança is a far cry from the revolutionary fervor of the past.

Opportunities for entertainment and career advancement are scarce, and the political climate remains tense, with lingering tensions between leftist and right-wing factions. Those seeking an easy, carefree life abroad would do well to look elsewhere, as Aliança appears ill-suited for all but the most dedicated and resilient of expats.