The Social West Ames®
1320 Coconino Rd,
Ames, IA 50014
$399 - $1,996
2-5 Beds
Rental Market Trends in Ames, IA
What is the average rent in Ames, IA?
$920/month
Average Rent
618 Sq Ft
Average Apartment Size
+2.9%
Increase in the Last Year
Ames, IA Rental Market Overview
The average rent in Ames, IA is $920 per month. This is 44% lower than the national average rent of $1,644/month, making renting in Ames more affordable than most cities in the US.
- Studio apartments in Ames average $1,347 per month.
- One-bedroom apartments in Ames average $920 per month.
- Two-bedroom apartments in Ames average $1,098 per month.
- Three-bedroom apartments in Ames average $1,390 or more per month.
Data Updated: June, 2026
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
How much has average rent changed in Ames, IA?
In the past year, rent has increased by 2.9%, which averages out to $27 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 2026
Legend
2025
2026
Rent Ranges in Ames, IA
Last Updated June 2026
$700 - $1,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Percentage*
Rent Range
6%
Below $700/month
47%
$700 - $1,000/month
37%
$1,001 - $1,500/month
8%
$1,501 - $2,000/month
3%
Above $2,000/month
Rent by Neighborhood
Last Updated Today
What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Ames?
Based on current rent prices, North Ames, West Ames and East Ames are the most affordable neighborhoods in Ames.
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Ames?
Based on current rent prices, South Ames, Campustown and East Ames are the most expensive neighborhoods in Ames.
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Which Ames neighborhoods have the most rentals available?
The neighborhoods in Ames with the most apartments available are West Ames, South Ames and East Ames .
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Ames, IA?
Because the average rent in Ames is $920, you’ll want to make about $3,066 per month or $36,792 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 5.2% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Ames is 11.0% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $920 - $1,390. You can expect to pay 3.8% less for groceries, 5.1% less for utilities, and 2.2% less for transportation.
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.
Studio
$694/month
$2,639/month
One Bedroom
$817/month
$1,036/month
Two Bedroom
$1,091/month
$1,289/month
Three Bedroom
$1,460/month
$1,756/month
Nearby City Rent Trends
Apartment communities in Ames we think you'll love
Learn More with Helpful Articles
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
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 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.
* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.