Colinas, Brazil

The population of 15,909 in Colinas, Brazil might sound quaint, but the reality of life here is far from idyllic. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the city's telecommunications infrastructure only recently upgrading from the state-owned monopoly that prevailed until the 1990s. And while Colinas bills itself as the "Horse Capital of Brazil", the annual Festa do Cavalo festival is really the only saving grace for the horseriding enthusiasts that make up a sizable portion of the population.

For the average expat, Colinas offers little beyond a sleepy provincial lifestyle. The city's religious and cultural diversity is notable, with a growing evangelical Christian presence and a sizable Lebanese immigrant community. But these unique attributes are outweighed by the grinding daily challenges of getting by in this remote corner of São Paulo state.

Colinas is best suited for those seeking a simple, rustic existence far from the bustle of Brazil's major cities - provided they can tolerate the administrative hassles and lack of modern amenities.