Uruguaiana, Brazil

This Brazilian border city is hardly a tropical paradise. With a population of just 117,456, Uruguaiana is a sparsely populated municipality in the western reaches of Rio Grande do Sul. The local economy leans heavily on services, industry, and agriculture, employing over 15,000 workers across sectors like public administration, transportation, and retail. But bureaucracy is a persistent headache, with the city relying primarily on public health facilities and a university system that enrolled only 1,850 students in 2005. Uruguaiana's humid subtropical climate brings hot summers, so the mild winters may provide some relief. Overall, this border town is better suited for pragmatic professionals than those seeking an easy, carefree expat lifestyle.