At the same time, the overwhelming majority of citizens—90% of those surveyed—believe that the government must intervene to resolve this crisis and actively support the development of affordable rental housing.
High Costs, Education, and Regional Disparities
The survey results indicate deep public dissatisfaction with current prices in the real estate market:
76% of Slovak residents consider current rental prices to be inadequate and unaffordable (and only 18% hold the opposite view);
60% of respondents are willing to spend no more than one-third (33%) of their monthly income on rent.
Perceptions of prices vary significantly by region and level of education. Residents of the Bratislava Region are hit hardest by high rental costs: only 11% of them consider current rates acceptable. By comparison, in eastern Slovakia, 22% of respondents described prices as reasonable.
A significant gap was also observed based on education level: among people with a basic education, 45% consider prices to be reasonable, while among respondents with a higher education, only 14% do.
Price vs. Quality: What People Are Willing to Pay Extra For
Despite high prices, Slovak residents focus not only on the price tag but also on living conditions. 53% of respondents indicated that they would prefer a newly built or high-quality, renovated modern apartment and are willing to pay extra for it rather than live in an old, unrenovated home.
“The results clearly show that people view housing affordability in two dimensions—both price and quality. Households are primarily looking for a reasonable balance between cost, comfort, and long-term stability,” explained Radko Rozum of 365.invest.
State-Supported Rental Housing as an Alternative to Expensive Loans
Experts note that expanding the state-supported rental housing system (štátom podporované nájomné bývanie) could be a solution to the problem. This would allow families to secure modern apartments at fixed, affordable prices without having to take out massive mortgages or be subject to the risks of the private market.
This year, the 365.invest fund became the first among Slovak mutual funds to join the government program. In cooperation with the State Rental Housing Agency, the fund plans to build 3,000 new affordable apartments across the country.
