Cubatão, Brazil

Living in Cubatão means dealing with its industrial legacy head-on. The city, just 12 kilometers from Latin America's largest seaport in Santos, is a hub for oil refining, steel mills, and fertilizer production. While pollution cleanup efforts have cost $1.2 billion since the 1980s, contaminated soil and groundwater remain an issue. Large industries still emit pollutants, and the air quality can be a concern, especially near industrial zones.

Cubatão isn't a tourist destination or a typical expat hotspot. It's a working-class city where daily life revolves around industry. The proximity to Santos offers some escape, but you'll need to adjust to the gritty reality of living in a place still grappling with its environmental past. If you're considering Cubatão, it's likely for work in the industrial sector, not for a leisurely retirement or digital nomad lifestyle.