Cornella de Llobregat, Spain

With a population of just 92,237, Cornellà de Llobregat is hardly the glamorous Barcelona lifestyle many expats dream of. This working-class suburb on the Llobregat River is plagued by a reputation for Spanish nationalism and resistance to Catalan integration, creating a persistent bureaucratic headache for newcomers.

The city's history as a passage point to the Catalan capital has left it with Visigothic architectural traits, but little of Barcelona's cultural allure. And while the presence of RCD Espanyol football club provides some local pride, Cornellà is far from a vibrant, cosmopolitan hub.

In short, this is a place best suited for those content with a no-frills, provincial Spanish existence on the fringes of the Barcelona metropolis.