Cidade Ocidental, Brazil

With a population of 98,963, this urban sprawl on the outskirts of the Federal District is a case study in the tradeoffs of affordable housing. The infrastructure is poor, the budget is tight, and bureaucracy is a persistent headache - the city makes up a 40-kilometer stretch of uneven development, where rules for construction are more rigid than the reality on the ground. While the climate is mild, with temperatures ranging from 18°C to 28°C, and literacy rates are higher than the state average, this is a community formed by necessity, not choice, catering to the lower and lower-middle income sectors priced out of the Federal District. Cidade Ocidental may work for those seeking a no-frills, functional living situation, but it's far from an idyllic relocation.