Contenda, Brazil

This sleepy farming town has a population of just 8,941 - hardly the bustling urban center many expats dream of. The area of 344.8 square kilometers is dominated by potato plantations, a legacy dating back to the 1800s visit of Emperor Pedro II. While billed as a "healthy country town," the bureaucratic red tape is a persistent headache for newcomers.

Contenda is the kind of place that appeals to retirees or remote workers content with a simple, rural lifestyle far from the madding crowd. But anyone seeking the excitement and amenities of a true Brazilian city would do better to set their sights elsewhere.