São Pedro da Aldeia, Brazil

With a population of just 50,474, São Pedro da Aldeia is hardly the bustling metropolis many expats envision. The sleepy coastal town's economy revolves around the salt trade and fishing - hardly the excitement of big city life. And while the Araruama Lagoon may be the largest hypersaline lagoon in the world, the constant wind is more nuisance than novelty. Bureaucracy is also a persistent headache, as evidenced by the military base that brought an influx of migrants in the 1960s. For those seeking a quiet, weather-beaten retirement far from the chaos of urban Brazil, São Pedro da Aldeia may fit the bill. But for the average adventurer, this backwater town is likely to disappoint.