Seropédica, Brazil

With a population of 86,743, Seropédica is a sprawling municipality far from the glitz of Rio de Janeiro. The city is home to the Federal Rural University and an Embrapa agricultural research institute, but bureaucracy is a persistent headache. Annual student games provide some entertainment, though the subtropical climate can be oppressive. This distant suburb is best suited for academics and researchers seeking an affordable cost of living outside the big city.