Cityville
550 SW 9th St,
Des Moines, IA 50309
$900 - $2,810
Studio - 3 Beds
Rental Market Trends in Des Moines, IA
What is the average rent in Des Moines, IA?
$990/month
Average Rent
644 Sq Ft
Average Apartment Size
-0.3%
Decrease in the Last Year
As of March 2026, the average rent in Des Moines, IA is $990 per month. This is 39% lower than the national average rent of $1,626/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 $826 per month for a studio, $990 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $1,100 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $1,472 or more.
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 Des Moines, IA?
In the past year, rent has decreased by 0.3%, which averages out to $3 less per month.
Market Trends Over Time
The chart below compares average rent prices to the previous year during the same time period.
Last Updated March 2026
Legend
2025
2026
Rent Ranges in Des Moines, IA
Last Updated March 2026
$700 - $1,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Percentage*
Rent Range
11%
Below $700/month
55%
$700 - $1,000/month
27%
$1,001 - $1,500/month
4%
$1,501 - $2,000/month
3%
Above $2,000/month
Rent by Neighborhood
Last Updated Today
What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Des Moines?
Based on current rent prices, Highland Park, Campus Park-Wright's Grove and Southern Knolls are the most affordable neighborhoods in Des Moines.
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Des Moines?
Based on current rent prices, Downtown Des Moines, Capitol View South and Western Gateway are the most expensive neighborhoods in Des Moines.
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average 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, Court District and East Village .
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Des Moines, IA?
Because the average rent in Des Moines is $990, you’ll want to make about $3,300 per month or $39,600 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 16.9% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Des Moines is 37.2% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $826 - $1,472. You can expect to pay 1.7% less for groceries, 21.2% less for utilities, and 0.9% less for transportation.
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.
Studio
-
$880/month
One Bedroom
-
$1,167/month
Two Bedroom
-
$1,603/month
Three Bedroom
-
$2,219/month
Nearby City Rent Trends
Apartment communities in Des Moines we think you'll love
Property Management Companies in Des Moines, IA
Indigo Living
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34
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5,233
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13
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Newbury Living
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28
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2,238
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10
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Knapp Properties, LC.
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20
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1,343
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4
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Kouri Management Inc.
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30
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1,901
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7
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Sherman Associates
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30
Communities
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4,228
Units
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11
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8 Communities in Des Moines
Conlin Companies, Inc.
-
13
Communities
-
1,593
Units
-
6
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8 Communities in Des Moines
Premier Real Estate Services
-
12
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-
1,131
Units
-
5
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8 Communities in Des Moines
Perennial Properties Management
-
12
Communities
-
598
Units
-
5
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7 Communities in Des Moines
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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 February 2026.
* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.