Araraquara, Brazil

With a population of just 166,731, Araraquara is a sleepy backwater that offers little to draw in ambitious expats. The city's "abode of the sun" moniker refers to its sweltering summers, a persistent headache for residents. Bureaucracy is another friction point, with the city's telecommunications infrastructure only recently upgraded by telecom giant Telefónica. Overall, Araraquara seems best suited for retirees or those content with a slow-paced, provincial lifestyle far from the bright lights of São Paulo.