• Renter Tools
    • Favorites
    • Saved Searches
  • Manage Rentals
  • Apartments For Rent
    • Altoona Apartments For Rent
    • Ames Apartments For Rent
    • Ankeny Apartments For Rent
    • Clive Apartments For Rent
    • Des Moines Apartments For Rent
    • Grimes Apartments For Rent
    • Johnston Apartments For Rent
    • Urbandale Apartments For Rent
    • Waukee Apartments For Rent
    • West Des Moines Apartments For Rent
  • Houses For Rent
    • Altoona Houses For Rent
    • Ames Houses For Rent
    • Ankeny Houses For Rent
    • Boone Houses For Rent
    • Clive Houses For Rent
    • Des Moines Houses For Rent
    • Fort Dodge Houses For Rent
    • Grimes Houses For Rent
    • Johnston Houses For Rent
    • Urbandale Houses For Rent
  • Condos For Rent
    • Ames Condos For Rent
    • Ankeny Condos For Rent
    • Boone Condos For Rent
    • Des Moines Condos For Rent
    • Downtown Des Moines Condos For Rent
    • Grimes Condos For Rent
    • Hampton Condos For Rent
    • Indianola Condos For Rent
    • Johnston Condos For Rent
    • Kelley Condos For Rent
  • Townhomes For Rent
    • Ames Townhomes For Rent
    • Ankeny Townhomes For Rent
    • Clive Townhomes For Rent
    • De Soto Townhomes For Rent
    • Des Moines Townhomes For Rent
    • Grimes Townhomes For Rent
    • Johnston Townhomes For Rent
    • Marshalltown Townhomes For Rent
    • Norwalk Townhomes For Rent
    • Urbandale Townhomes For Rent
  • Help Center
  • Cost of Living in Ames
  • Area Guide
  • Rent Calculator
  • Property Management Companies

Language

Apartments.com Logo
Manage Rentals      Sign Up / Sign In
Add a Property

Rental Market Trends in Ames, IA

What is the average rent in Ames, IA?

$889/month

Average Rent

620 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+2%

Increase in the Last Year

As of June 2025, the average rent in Ames, IA is $889 per month. This is 45% lower than the national average rent of $1,628/month, making renting in Ames more affordable than most cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in Ames, you can expect to pay about $767 per month for a studio, $889 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $1,072 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $1,312 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$767/month
403 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$889/month
620 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,072/month
903 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,312/month
1,145 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,498/month
1,133 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$1,980/month
1,219 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$969/month
384 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,560/month
1,329 Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in Ames, IA?

In the past year, rent has increased by 2%, which averages out to $19 more per month.

Market Trends Over Time   The chart below compares average rent prices to the previous year during the same time period.
Last Updated June 2025
Legend
2024 2025
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Ames, IA
Last Updated June 2025
$700 - $1,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in Ames, IA
Percentage*
Rent Range
8% Below $700/month
47% $700 - $1,000/month
34% $1,001 - $1,500/month
8% $1,501 - $2,000/month
3% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

Last Updated Today
  • Most Affordable
  • Most Expensive
  • Most Available

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Ames?

Based on current rent prices, East Ames, West Ames and South Ames are the most affordable neighborhoods in Ames.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
East Ames
$900/month
605 Sq Ft
West Ames
$933/month
656 Sq Ft
South Ames
$945/month
624 Sq Ft
Campustown
$1,193/month
614 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Ames?

Based on current rent prices, Campustown, South Ames and West Ames are the most expensive neighborhoods in Ames.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Campustown
$1,193/month
614 Sq Ft
South Ames
$945/month
624 Sq Ft
West Ames
$933/month
656 Sq Ft
East Ames
$900/month
605 Sq Ft

Which Ames neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

The neighborhoods in Ames with the most apartments available are West Ames, East Ames and South Ames .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
West Ames
$933/month
656 Sq Ft
East Ames
$900/month
605 Sq Ft
South Ames
$945/month
624 Sq Ft
Campustown
$1,193/month
614 Sq Ft
This information is based on data collected by CoStar Group researchers.†

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Ames, IA?

Because the average rent in Ames is $889, you’ll want to make about $2,963 per month or $35,556 per year. The general guideline is to pay no more than 30 percent of your monthly income on rent. However, you’ll want to consider additional factors, such as your monthly bills and other expenses. Use our rent affordability calculator to help determine how much to budget for rent.

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Ames, IA is 5.5% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Ames is 15.8% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $767 - $1,312. You can expect to pay 4.3% less for groceries, 2.1% more for utilities, and 2.0% less for transportation.

City

Ames, IA

880 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

How does Ames, IA compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?

Use the tool below to compare Ames, IA to other nearby cities and neighborhoods. The Apartments.com neighborhood guides provide you with insight into the area’s transportation, things to do, and more.

Explore the Area Guide for Ames, IA

Apartment Averages

East Ames

Ames, IA

Campustown

Ames, IA

Studio
$715/month
$835/month
One Bedroom
$817/month
$936/month
Two Bedroom
$882/month
$1,128/month
Three Bedroom
$1,148/month
$1,298/month
Search
Search

Nearby City Rent Trends

  • Nevada Average Rent

Apartment communities in Ames we think you'll love

2700 Lincoln

2700 Lincoln

2700 Lincoln Way,
Ames, IA 50014

Studio - 5 Beds | $589 - $1,470

Point at Ames

Point at Ames

3306 Lincoln Way,
Ames, IA 50014

2-4 Beds | $600 - $855

The Quarters Ames

The Quarters Ames

601 S 17th St,
Ames, IA 50010

2-3 Beds | $615 - $1,785

BrickTowne Ames Townhomes

BrickTowne Ames Townhomes

560 W Crystal Loop,
Ames, IA 50010

3 Beds | $2,500 - $2,600

Property Management Companies in Ames, IA

Hunziker & Associates, Realtors
Hunziker & Associates, Realtors
  • 10

    Communities

  • 1,099

    Units

  • 2

    Cities

9 Communities in Ames
Jensen Group
Jensen Group
  • 12

    Communities

  • 3,085

    Units

  • 4

    Cities

7 Communities in Ames
Haverkamp Properties
Haverkamp Properties
  • 21

    Communities

  • 4,120

    Units

  • 10

    Cities

6 Communities in Ames
Seldin Company
Seldin Company
  • 57

    Communities

  • 12,812

    Units

  • 23

    Cities

3 Communities in Ames
Cardinal Group Management and Advisory, LLC
Cardinal Group Management and Advisory, LLC
  • 146

    Communities

  • 30,411

    Units

  • 85

    Cities

2 Communities in Ames
The Tailwind Group
The Tailwind Group
  • 24

    Communities

  • 6,703

    Units

  • 18

    Cities

2 Communities in Ames
Trinity Property Consultants
Trinity Property Consultants
  • 158

    Communities

  • 43,087

    Units

  • 98

    Cities

1 Community in Ames
Elmington Capital
Elmington Capital
  • 136

    Communities

  • 23,266

    Units

  • 66

    Cities

1 Community in Ames

Learn More with Helpful Articles

Moving Out of State: How to Start Your Apartment Search in a New State

Go the distance and find your new home.

9 Money Saving Tips for Relocating

Save money and start fresh using these tips and tricks.

Non-Monetary Factors to Consider When Renting or Buying a Home

Money isn't the only matter.

The Benefits of Renters Insurance

Better safe than sorry! Protect yourself(and your stuff) with renters insurance.

Explore the Renterverse

Rental management, simplified

Our all-in-one suite of property manangement software makes the rental process easy. Screen tenants, manage payments, and more – all on Apartments.com

Start managing your rentals
United States Iowa Ames Rental Trends

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2025.

* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Notice
  • Avoid Scams
  • Accessibility
  • Blog
  • Long Island Apartments
  • Sitemap
apartments.com
© 2025 CoStar Group, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity

Equal Housing Opportunity

© 2025 CoStar Group, Inc.

Equal Housing Opportunity