Carapicuíba, Brazil

This densely populated São Paulo suburb of Carapicuíba is no idyllic backwater. With a population of 403,183 crammed into just 34.55 square kilometers, the city has a relentless hustle and bustle that can be a persistent headache for new residents. The economy is modest, with a GDP per capita of just R$5,004 as of 2005. And while the city has seen rapid growth, particularly after the arrival of the Sorocabana Railway in 1870, it still grapples with infrastructure challenges like the vast lake formed by sand mining that now cuts through the city. Carapicuíba is best suited for those seeking an affordable, urban lifestyle on the outskirts of Brazil's economic capital, though the tradeoffs of density and bureaucracy may prove too much for some.