Praia Grande, Brazil

With a population of just 123,492, Praia Grande is a crowded seaside resort town on the São Paulo coast. While it may offer an easy escape from the capital, the city's rapid growth has come with some persistent headaches - a sprawling bureaucracy and persistent traffic issues that can make daily life a challenge. On the plus side, Praia Grande has invested heavily in infrastructure, with over 90% of streets now paved and a cutting-edge fiber optic network that allows real-time monitoring of public services. Overall, this is a functional but hardly glamorous destination best suited for cost-conscious Brazilians seeking a beachside escape from the big city.