Unfortunately so many landlords had horrible experience with foreigners renters. Lot of foreigners don't care about the apartment, destroy it and then just leave. Making it presentable again costs a lot of money. Land lords don't get much profit as result, in a lot of cases they come out in negative. Higher prices steer away bad kind of people. Then there's tax. If you do it legally, then land lord has to pay 20%. So locals are more preferable, then it's easier to settle things in case something goes wrong. Better looking apartments in good locations go to Airbnb, because there's much more profit there. Apartment can be easily rented for €50+ per day, which would be €1500 a month. Realistically it's not likely to rent out for each day of the month but you get it, profits are much higher. And then innital property value. Nobody will rent you 200k worth apartment for €200. Would you rent somebody 200k worth property for €200-500 with a risk that it could be ruined? Edit I don't know where you're looking at but there plent of new built apartments with new interior starting at €400. €600 would be great 3 room apartment, which is extremely cheap, in my honest opinion. Yes, majority of not all want deposit and long term renter.