Lota, Chile

Capital City

Lota is a former coal mining hub that's now struggling with economic decline and depopulation. The city's population has plummeted from around 80,000 in the 1980s to just 43,272 today. Once a stronghold of pro-Soviet communism, Lota is now heavily depoliticized, with some evangelical churches drawing more attendees than political party offices. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the city's trade unions and political parties were forcefully suppressed under the military dictatorship. For those seeking a quiet, low-cost life outside the urban rat race, Lota could be a viable option - but the transition won't be easy.