Mike Holp, a 38-year-old digital creator, found himself caught in the grind of a demanding lifestyle while living just outside downtown Austin with three roommates.
Despite holding a degree in computer science, he struggled to secure the tech job he desired amid fierce competition.
To make ends meet, he turned to delivering food on his bike, resulting in long hours that only just covered his rent.
“Basically, the only thing that I could find to do to pay expenses was to deliver food on my bike,” Holp recounted in an interview with Business Insider.
As hours turned into days, and days into months, the relentless cycle of work took its toll on him.
Disillusionment set in as the rising cost of living further complicated his situation.
“At that point, I was like: ‘What am I doing all this for? Just to get by?” Holp reflected on his time in Austin.
Realizing his life there was unsustainable, he decided it was time for a change.
In 2019, after saving money from his food delivery and real estate photography jobs, Holp purchased a one-way ticket to Asia.
Bali and Singapore were his first stops before he ultimately settled on Thailand.
During his time in Chiang Mai, he met his now-fiancée, Mary, who was on vacation at the time but split her work life between Bangkok and Koh Samui.
To be closer to her, Holp relocated to Koh Samui, favoring its slower pace over the bustling capital.
His house-hunting experience was straightforward, as he found their first home on Facebook Marketplace—an affordable one-bedroom house in Lamai costing 9,000 Thai baht per month.
Three years in that house prompted another move; his fiancée switched jobs and they sought a more spacious living environment.
Now, they reside in a larger one-bedroom property in Lamai, renting for 20,000 Thai baht, roughly $600 per month.
“It’s a modern village-style home. It’s on a raised platform, about 12 feet off the ground, so if there’s any flooding, we don’t have to worry about that,” Holp explained.
Though Holp’s Thai language skills are limited, he noted that many locals are familiar with basic English due to the tourism-driven nature of Samui.
Additionally, making new connections was easier thanks to a large Facebook group called Koh Samui Expats, boasting about 40,000 members, where he has become a moderator.
Life in Samui is a stark contrast to his previous existence in Austin.
His mornings consist of dropping Mary off at work before taking a walk along the beach and engaging in a quick workout session at an outdoor gym linked to the mainland by a wooden bridge.
Following his workout, he enjoys morning coffee at a nearby café before diving into work.
Besides creating content for his platforms, Holp runs a photography business and a consulting service focused on helping others relocate to Thailand.
“I have a flexible schedule,” he said, emphasizing the carefree and relaxed lifestyle he has embraced in Samui.
No longer trapped in a demanding rat race, he now has the time and energy to indulge in hobbies, exploring the island on his bike and socializing with friends.
The lower cost of living in Thailand is a significant factor in his newfound freedom.
“It frees up my time so that I can focus on passion projects like the YouTube channel, and I don’t have to worry about just paying rent all the time and stressing out,” Holp added.
He and Mary typically spend between 50,000 and 60,000 Thai baht, about $1,500 to $1,800, monthly.
While they occasionally cook at home, dining out remains affordable, making it easy to enjoy meals out.
Their weekly grocery bill averages around 2,000 Thai baht, with plenty of international brands available in larger stores.
“Even going to the grocery store, you can get 30 eggs for five bucks,” he noted.
Holp estimates a similar lifestyle in Austin would cost them five times more.
According to a 2025 SmartAsset analysis based on MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, a single person requires an annual income of at least $101,587 to live comfortably in Austin.
As reported in May, the average rent in Austin stands at $2,000.
Holp appreciates the warm climate and the welcoming nature of the locals in Samui, where he feels secure in his surroundings.
“I don’t even really have to worry about locking the door, whereas back in Austin, I probably have to worry about how somebody might break in and rob me,” he shared.
It’s been five years since he last visited the United States, and he doesn’t feel a strong urge to return.
“There’s a big car culture in the US. I do kind of miss driving a car around here. I just use the motorbike for everything since it’s really easy to get around the little roads and stuff,” Holp expressed.
Ultimately, his main connections back home are family and friends, but the allure of his new life in Thailand far outweighs his feelings of nostalgia.
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