The landlord provides the option to live somewhere with significantly less time or financial commitment than would be required if buying. The number isn't the landlord's parasitic decision, it's just economics.

Seems like it's both.

I'm not sure if you are being sarcastic. The landlord is not giving you just "land". He is giving you a house that he bought with money or mortgage.

I hate these prices as much as the next guy, but if every other apartment charges that much, and they get rented... the landlord would absolutely be crazy NOT to charge that price.

You gotta spend money to earn money. That's how it is and for a lot of people that amount of rent is still worth it.

The landlord adds the value of a home to the world.

Surely you know this?

You would know that landlords often seek to increase rent, without adding value to the home, while the fittings in the home age, as the amenity and wealth of the surrounding community increase.

The value of the home is increased mostly by the location of the home, and relative availability of other alternative nearby homes, much less its physical trappings.

You would know that almost without fail property taxes increase, utility costs increase, labor costs increase, and building material costs increase.