Sobradinho II, Brazil

With a population of 82,785, Sobradinho II is no quaint suburb. This administrative region northeast of Brasília is a sprawling urban area, complete with the bureaucratic headaches that come with life in Brazil's federal district. Founded in 1991, Sobradinho II has grown rapidly, though its borders with neighboring Fercal and Sobradinho suggest a patchwork of development. For those seeking a more affordable alternative to central Brasília, Sobradinho II may fit the bill. But the persistent challenges of big-city living in Brazil will be unavoidable.