Butterworth, Malaysia

With a population of just 71,643, Butterworth is a small city center on the Malaysian mainland that lacks the glitz and glamor of its island neighbor George Town. The economy is propped up by the Port of Penang, which handled 1.52 million TEUs of cargo in 2017, but the town has seen significant decline in recent decades as administrative functions were moved elsewhere. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, as the local government was merged and shuffled between councils over the years. While Butterworth has historical charms like Taoist temples and street murals, the overall infrastructure has deteriorated. This unremarkable industrial hub is best suited for pragmatic expats focused on work at the port or nearby factories, not those seeking an exciting Malaysian experience.