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Rental Market Trends in Des Moines, IA

What is the average rent in Des Moines, IA?

$1,000/month

Average Rent

643 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+1.5%

Increase in the Last Year

As of July 2025, the average rent in Des Moines, IA is $1,000 per month. This is 39% lower than the national average rent of $1,637/month, making renting in Des Moines more affordable than most cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in Des Moines, you can expect to pay about $848 per month for a studio, $1,000 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $1,110 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $1,487 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$848/month
447 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,000/month
643 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,110/month
917 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,487/month
1,231 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$852/month
589 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,232/month
834 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,729/month
1,274 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$2,035/month
1,627 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,749/month
897 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,170/month
921 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,724/month
1,099 Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in Des Moines, IA?

In the past year, rent has increased by 1.5%, which averages out to $16 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 July 2025
Legend
2024 2025
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Des Moines, IA
Last Updated July 2025
$700 - $1,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in Des Moines, IA
Percentage*
Rent Range
11% Below $700/month
55% $700 - $1,000/month
26% $1,001 - $1,500/month
5% $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 Des Moines?

Based on current rent prices, Campus Park-Wright's Grove, Hoffman Place and Arnolds Place are the most affordable neighborhoods in Des Moines.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Campus Park-Wright's Grove
$561/month
658 Sq Ft
Hoffman Place
$562/month
659 Sq Ft
Arnolds Place
$597/month
591 Sq Ft
Beaverdale
$667/month
607 Sq Ft
Doudna Heights-Glen Oaks
$673/month
610 Sq Ft
Highland Park
$728/month
693 Sq Ft
Chetwynd
$752/month
543 Sq Ft
Fort Des Moines
$776/month
587 Sq Ft
Lyons Park
$791/month
557 Sq Ft
Martin-Hickman
$804/month
575 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Des Moines?

Based on current rent prices, Western Gateway, Downtown Des Moines and Capitol View South are the most expensive neighborhoods in Des Moines.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Western Gateway
$1,413/month
619 Sq Ft
Downtown Des Moines
$1,367/month
705 Sq Ft
Capitol View South
$1,247/month
668 Sq Ft
East Village
$1,245/month
695 Sq Ft
Civic Historic District
$1,225/month
677 Sq Ft
Sherman Hill Historic District
$1,208/month
637 Sq Ft
Sherman Hill
$1,191/month
638 Sq Ft
Court District
$1,185/month
672 Sq Ft
Haines Park-Owl's Head Estates
$1,173/month
668 Sq Ft
Polk Hubbell Park
$1,170/month
596 Sq Ft

Which Des Moines neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

The neighborhoods in Des Moines with the most apartments available are Downtown Des Moines, East Village and Court District .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Downtown Des Moines
$1,367/month
705 Sq Ft
East Village
$1,245/month
695 Sq Ft
Court District
$1,185/month
672 Sq Ft
Capitol View South
$1,247/month
668 Sq Ft
Western Gateway
$1,413/month
619 Sq Ft
Civic Historic District
$1,225/month
677 Sq Ft
Southwestern Hills
$881/month
644 Sq Ft
Woodland Heights
$1,104/month
637 Sq Ft
Haines Park-Owl's Head Estates
$1,173/month
668 Sq Ft
Sherman Hill
$1,191/month
638 Sq Ft
This information is based on data collected by CoStar Group researchers.†

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

Because the average rent in Des Moines is $1,000, you’ll want to make about $3,333 per month or $39,996 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 Des Moines, IA is 14.7% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Des Moines is 34.6% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $848 - $1,487. You can expect to pay 0.9% less for groceries, 19.4% less for utilities, and 6.5% less for transportation.

City

Des Moines, IA

2,781 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

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

Use the tool below to compare Des Moines, 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 Des Moines, IA

Apartment Averages

Campus Park-Wright's Grove

Des Moines, IA

Western Gateway

Des Moines, IA

Studio
-
-
One Bedroom
$696/month
-
Two Bedroom
$809/month
-
Three Bedroom
$1,065/month
-
Search
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Nearby City Rent Trends

  • Altoona Average Rent
  • West Des Moines Average Rent
  • Johnston Average Rent

Apartment communities in Des Moines we think you'll love

Cityville

Cityville

550 SW 9th St,
Des Moines, IA 50309

Studio - 3 Beds | $895 - $2,575

The Meridian

The Meridian

425 SW 11th St,
Des Moines, IA 50309

Studio - 2 Beds | $1,323 - $2,722

Rowat Lofts Apartments

Rowat Lofts Apartments

601 E Vine St,
Des Moines, IA 50309

Studio - 2 Beds | $885 - $1,680

Olde English Village

Olde English Village

1201 Office Park Rd,
West Des Moines, IA 50265

1-2 Beds | $835 - $1,050

Property Management Companies in Des Moines, IA

Indigo Living
Indigo Living
  • 39

    Communities

  • 6,074

    Units

  • 13

    Cities

19 Communities in Des Moines
Knapp Properties, LC.
Knapp Properties, LC.
  • 20

    Communities

  • 1,355

    Units

  • 4

    Cities

15 Communities in Des Moines
VAREco
VAREco
  • 14

    Communities

  • 1,536

    Units

  • 3

    Cities

11 Communities in Des Moines
Sherman Associates
Sherman Associates
  • 34

    Communities

  • 4,722

    Units

  • 13

    Cities

8 Communities in Des Moines
Newbury Living
Newbury Living
  • 18

    Communities

  • 1,050

    Units

  • 8

    Cities

8 Communities in Des Moines
Conlin Companies, Inc.
Conlin Companies, Inc.
  • 14

    Communities

  • 1,659

    Units

  • 7

    Cities

8 Communities in Des Moines
Perennial Properties Management
Perennial Properties Management
  • 12

    Communities

  • 601

    Units

  • 5

    Cities

7 Communities in Des Moines
Premier Real Estate Services
Premier Real Estate Services
  • 10

    Communities

  • 1,069

    Units

  • 3

    Cities

7 Communities in Des Moines

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United States Iowa Des Moines 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.

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Equal Housing Opportunity