Queimados, Brazil

With a population of just 150,319, Queimados is a modest municipality in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The city is divided into 37 districts and sits at an altitude of 29 meters. However, the history of this town is marked by hardship - thousands of Chinese workers died from malaria and cholera while building the railway in the 1850s. Today, bureaucracy remains a persistent headache for residents. Those seeking a laidback, small-town lifestyle may find Queimados an affordable option, but the city's challenges are not to be underestimated.