Work & daily life

Ask your future employer or your host organisation if it is possible to provide you with accommodation. Some universities and research organisations have their own accommodation facilities for their employees. If your future employer/host cannot provide you with accommodation, ask them for other possibilities or recommendations.

You can find accommodation yourself, too – properties for rent are advertised in daily newspapers, regional press and on the internet. You can rent a flat directly from an owner or through a real estate agency. When renting a flat, enquire whether the price covers just the rent or if it also includes utility costs (electricity, gas, heating, water, phone bills, etc.). Rents are usually paid monthly and deposits for a few months’ rent are common. It is, of course, necessary to sign a lease.

A standard rental deposit in Slovakia is usually equivalent to 1 or 2 months of rent and is refundable after the lease ends if no damage has occurred. Always ensure that the lease agreement is signed in writing, ideally in both English and Slovak. Some landlords may require proof of employment or income. It is also common to provide a copy of your passport or residence permit.

Rental prices depend on several factors:

  • city/town (in the capital city and university towns rents are usually higher),
  • locality within a city/town (centre/outskirts),
  • type of flat/house (tower block, brick house, new building, flat/house that has or has not been renovated, etc.),
  • furnishings, 
  • size of flat (number of bedrooms, surface area, etc.).

As a rough estimate (2025):
In Bratislava, one-bedroom flats range from €500–€900/month;
In Košice or Banská Bystrica: €400–€700/month.
Utilities usually range from €100–€200/month, depending on consumption.

Useful links

Long‑term accommodation

  • Reality.sk – nationwide search database, provides regularly updated rental offers from more than 400 real estate agencies, a list of real estate agencies with contact phone numbers, websites and emails;
  • Flatmates.sk – search engines for finding roommates and listing available rooms to rent (in Slovak only);
  • Spolubyvanie.sk – private advertising website for accommodation rentals (craigslist style, in Slovak only).
  • Nehnutelnosti.sk - property search site, also includes maps and filtering options.

Short‑term accommodation

  • Reality.sk – a nationwide search database (also in English), regularly updated rental offers by more than 400 real estate agencies, a list of real estate agencies with contact phone numbers, websites and emails;
  • Ubytovanievmeste.sk/ - search database for long-term and short-term accommodation around the Slovakia (in Slovak only). 
  • Booking.com or Airbnb – for temporary accommodation upon arrival while searching for a permanent place.

Dormitories

Most higher education institutions offer housing in dormitories. Their standards may differ. There are usually 2 – 4 students accommodated in one room, but rooms for a single student are also available. Rooms are furnished with beds, tables and wardrobes. Bathrooms are usually shared between two rooms, or there is a common bathroom for the whole floor.

Most dormitories have their dining hall or buffet, where meals are available for lower prices and usually are open during the academic year. Lunch or dinner costs from €2 to €5 with student ISIC card. Some dormitories have their own gyms, swimming pools, fitness centres, etc.

The price per bed varies from dormitory to dormitory, depending on city, location and type of room. You can pay from €60 per month up to €140.

The majority of the rooms have internet access.

There are also self‑service laundries in dormitories in Slovakia (Cent; Pramako, Laundromat, Blesk; Flipperwash).

NOTE:  Please note that dormitories are primarily designed for students. However, in some cities, research institutes may have reserved rooms or long-term guest accommodations within or near university dormitories. Researchers should inquire about guest apartments (“hosťovské izby”) or visiting scholar housing options directly with the university or research institute.

Renting a flat

The easiest way (except for staying in a hotel) is to rent a private apartment. In such cases, it is recommended to sign a lease with your future landlord defining precisely the terms and conditions of your stay in the apartment.

The apartments should be equipped with pots, dishes, linens, etc. Most apartments have washing machines, but automatic dryers are usually not used.

You can also find a shared room or flat via social networks or via www.flatmates.sk, www.spolubyvanie.sk – both websites in Slovak only. There are also Facebook groups dedicated to finding flatmates and flats to rent, or Facebook groups for international students in each city where it is easy to find yourself a flatmate.

TIP: Facebook Marketplace and international groups for expats and students are among the most active channels for short- and long-term rental offers. When using these platforms, always verify the legitimacy of listings and never send payments before signing a contract or visiting the property in person.

In case of frequently asked questions with regard to renting an apartment in Slovakia, please check the Slovak Spectator or contact directly EURAXESS contact centre in Slovakia.

Read more: https://spectator.sme.sk/business/c/faq-renting-an-apartment-in-slovakia

FACEBOOK groups, where you can find a flat and rent a room:
Bratislava:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/100684056944091/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/493169417389137/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BratislavaTOPAPARTMENTSFLATS/

Košice:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/rentflatkosice/

Banská Bystrica:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/481452962417226

General group for for advice, help and socialising as a foreigner in Slovakia:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/expatsinsk/

Group for international researchers in Slovakia
https://www.facebook.com/groups/324671009133126