Sobral, Brazil

This is a working-class Brazilian city where expats are rare and English speakers rarer. The economy runs on agriculture and small manufacturing, not tourism or digital services. You'll need Portuguese to navigate daily life – bureaucracy moves at its own pace here, and that eclipse museum won't distract you from the 36°C midday heat.

Living in Sobral means trading amenities for affordability. The two public universities give it some intellectual energy, but don't expect cosmopolitan comforts. Your social circle will likely revolve around the Catholic diocese or academic contacts. This is Brazil off the expat trail – rewarding if you want total immersion, isolating if you don't.