San Juan de la Maguana, Dominican Republic

Capital City

With just 132,177 residents, San Juan de la Maguana is a sleepy provincial capital that offers little to lure foreign transplants. The economy remains heavily dependent on livestock and agriculture, as it has been since colonial times, with the fertile soil and tropical climate supporting the cultivation of staple crops like beans and corn. However, the city's isolation comes with a price - bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and the pronounced dry season from December to March brings only 3 inches of rain. While San Juan may appeal to retirees seeking a quieter pace of life, those seeking economic opportunity or cosmopolitan amenities would do better to look elsewhere.