Barbalha, Brazil

With a population of just 38,430, Barbalha is a sleepy backwater that offers little to lure expats. The town sits in the remote southern reaches of Ceará state, 575 km from the state capital Fortaleza. While the region boasts a national forest and a scenic plateau, the climate is brutally hot, with average highs around 33°C from October to November. Bureaucracy is also a persistent headache, as evidenced by the town hall's renovation in the 1930s. Overall, Barbalha seems better suited for local Brazilians than foreign residents seeking an easy transition.