Vila Prudente, Brazil

Living in this São Paulo suburb is a grind. The population of 105,590 residents crammed into the two districts of Vila Prudente and São Lucas creates a persistent bureaucratic headache. While the textbook description paints a picture of a standard Brazilian urban center, the gritty reality is an overcrowded, high-density living situation that's a far cry from the tropical paradise many expats imagine.

For those seeking an authentic slice of São Paulo life, Vila Prudente may fit the bill. But the sheer scale and density of the area, combined with the administrative hassles, are likely dealbreakers for many would-be expatriates dreaming of a laidback Latin American lifestyle.