When I got my first job in Europe, I was so happy. I had work contract from Poland, salary 850 euro. But then landlord told me "You need to pay Kaution, 2 months rent". That was 800 euro extra. I didn't have that money at that time. This is story how I managed it.
This is very important topic for EuroJobLogis readers, because job and housing are connected. You cannot start job without housing, and you cannot pay housing without job. So you need plan.
In Europe, almost all apartments need deposit. They call it Kaution in Germany and Poland, Cauzione in Italy, Caution in France. It is usually 1 to 2 months of cold rent (Kaltmiete), not warm rent. Some landlords ask 3 months, but law in Germany says max 3 months. In Poland, usually 1 month. In my case, landlord asked 2 months because I was foreigner and new.
My rent was 400 euro Kaltmiete. So 2 months deposit was 800 euro. Plus first month rent 400 euro. So to get key, I needed 1200 euro at once. My salary was 850 euro. So you see problem? First month I need more money than salary.
How did I solve it?
First, I talked to my employer. Many people don't know, but some companies help you. I told my boss "I need help for housing deposit". He said company can give me advance, 500 euro from first salary earlier. Not all companies do, but you must ask. In my contract, there was no housing help, but boss was kind. So I got 500 euro advance.
Second, I asked landlord to pay deposit in 2 parts. Law in Germany allows you to pay Kaution in 3 parts. I told landlord "Can I pay 400 euro now and 400 euro next month?" He first said no, but I showed him my work contract, that I have stable job. He agreed. So first month I paid 400 deposit + 400 rent = 800 euro, not 1200. Second month I paid 400 deposit + 400 rent = 800 again. That helped me a lot.
Third, I borrowed 300 euro from my cousin in Egypt. I told him I will return in 2 months. I returned after first salary.
So my plan was:
Month 0 (before travel): I had 600 euro saved from Egypt.
Month 1 in Poland: I got 500 advance + 600 saved = 1100. I paid 800 for housing, left 300 for food and transport. It was hard but I managed.
Month 2: I got full salary 850 euro, paid 800 again, left 50 euro. Very hard month.
Month 3: No deposit anymore, only rent 400 euro. So from 850 salary, after rent I had 450 euro for living. Much better.
Month 4: I got deposit back from first small room I left? No, but I saved.
Now I want to give you advice if you are coming for job in Europe and you worry about deposit:
1. Always ask employer: "Do you help with housing deposit?" Some jobs in Germany, like factories, offer housing with no deposit. They cut from salary but you don't pay big amount first month. This is good for start. Jobs in logistics, Amazon, DHL sometimes have this.
2. Search for apartment with 1 month Kaution only. On http://OLX.pl or http://Immobilienscout24.de, filter with "Kaution 1 Monat". Don't take apartment with 3 months deposit if you don't have money.
3. Don't rent big apartment at first. Rent small room in shared apartment (WG in Germany, or pokój in Poland). Rooms usually have 300-400 euro deposit only, not 800. After 3 months when you have savings, you can move to bigger apartment.
4. Make a budget before you travel. You need at least: 1 month rent + 1 month deposit + food for 1 month (300 euro) + transport (30 euro). So if rent is 400, you need 400+400+300+30 = 1130 euro minimum to start. If you have less, you will be stressed.
5. Keep receipt for Kaution. Landlord must put your Kaution in separate bank account. He cannot use it. When you leave apartment clean and no damage, he must give it back in 3-6 months. I got mine back after 3 months when I left first room. I left room clean, took pictures before I left. Very important: take pictures when you enter and when you leave. If landlord says you broke something, you have proof.
My friend had bad experience. He paid 1000 euro deposit in Berlin, and when he left, landlord said he broke the door and took 400 euro. My friend didn't have pictures from start, so he couldn't prove. So always take pictures day one.
For EuroJobLogis readers who are looking for job + housing, I recommend this: Look for job offers that say "Accommodation provided" or "Housing assistance". These jobs are in factories, hotels, farms. They give you room and you pay like 250-300 euro from salary, no big deposit. You can work there 3-6 months, save money, then move to your own apartment with deposit. This is smart way. I did it? No, I paid deposit directly and it was hard. If I go back in time, I would take job with housing first.
In 2026, many agencies in Poland and Germany offer this. For example, work in warehouse near Poznan, they give shared house for 300 euro per month, no Kaution. Or work in hotel in Austria, they give staff room free.
So job and housing are not separate. You must think about them together. If you find job with good salary but housing needs 2 months deposit and you don't have money, you will have problem. Better find job with little less salary but with housing help.
I hope my experience helps you not make same mistake. Plan for deposit, ask employer, and take pictures.
If you are in Egypt now and want to move, start saving for deposit from now. Even 50 euro per month helps. When you arrive, you will need that money first day.