> So I've got to prove I make $70k a year, and then put down a $7500 deposit on a small apartment that costs me $1800 a month

Nice, <5 years old, fully furnished, two-bed room apartments in central, well-connected areas of Seoul are <$1000 per month.

And that's places that are suitable for 2 people to live in - the large majority of digital nomads live on their own, in which case it's even cheaper.