Satellite is only physically possible in North America or Europe if you have a clear view of the sky to the south, at some angle above the horizon. So if that doesn't describe your apartment, satellite is out of the question. Of course, the rules of the building owner come first, even if you do have a clear shot to the south.
But it's not true that satellite is "a lot" cheaper than cable. By the time you tally all the fees and taxes, and wait for the promotional period to expire, the bottom-line costs for both are quite similar. Verified by comparing bills for similar services among neighbors with Comcast, DirecTV, and U-verse.