Santo Antônio de Pádua, Brazil

With a population under 40,000, Santo Antônio de Pádua is a sleepy backwater, hardly the cosmopolitan hub some might expect from a Brazilian municipality. The latest census pegs the population at just 39,600 residents spread across its eight districts, a far cry from the glitz of Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo. And while the city boasts a quaint coat of arms with a tree and fountain motif, the reality on the ground is a persistent bureaucratic headache that can make daily life a slog.

The climate, at least, is mild, with no extreme temperatures to contend with. But beyond that small mercy, this remote corner of Rio de Janeiro state offers little to attract the average expat. Unless you crave a truly quiet, slow-paced lifestyle far from the madding crowd, Santo Antônio de Pádua is likely to underwhelm.