• Renter Tools
    • Favorites
    • Saved Searches
  • Manage Rentals
  • Apartments For Rent
  • Houses For Rent
  • Condos For Rent
  • Townhomes For Rent
  • Help Center
  • Cost of Living in Des Moines
  • Area Guide
  • Rent Calculator
  • Property Management Companies

Language

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

Rental Market Trends in Des Moines, IA

What is the average rent in Des Moines, IA?

$1,006/month

Average Rent

645 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

-0.1%

Decrease in the Last Year

As of April 2026, the average rent in Des Moines, IA is $1,006 per month. This is 39% lower than the national average rent of $1,641/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 $853 per month for a studio, $1,006 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $1,112 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $1,540 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$853/month
448 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,006/month
645 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,112/month
915 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,540/month
1,184 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$921/month
602 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,169/month
816 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,568/month
1,168 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$2,051/month
1,777 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,457/month
887 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,495/month
1,092 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,768/month
1,435 Sq Ft

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

In the past year, rent has decreased by 0.1%, which averages out to $0 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 April 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Des Moines, IA
Last Updated April 2026
$700 - $1,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in Des Moines, IA
Percentage*
Rent Range
11% Below $700/month
56% $700 - $1,000/month
26% $1,001 - $1,500/month
4% $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, Chesterfield, Fort Des Moines and Jordan Park are the most affordable neighborhoods in Des Moines.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Chesterfield
$726/month
500 Sq Ft
Fort Des Moines
$790/month
595 Sq Ft
Jordan Park
$835/month
650 Sq Ft
Pioneer Park
$839/month
656 Sq Ft
Indianola Hills
$856/month
594 Sq Ft
Easter Lake Area
$879/month
660 Sq Ft
Greater South Side
$890/month
634 Sq Ft
Ingersoll Park
$896/month
608 Sq Ft
Browns Woods
$896/month
608 Sq Ft
Cottage Grove
$897/month
631 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Des Moines?

Based on current rent prices, Greenwood, Greenwood Park and Salisbury Oaks are the most expensive neighborhoods in Des Moines.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Greenwood
$1,686/month
812 Sq Ft
Greenwood Park
$1,485/month
787 Sq Ft
Salisbury Oaks
$1,474/month
764 Sq Ft
Capitol View South
$1,331/month
726 Sq Ft
Downtown Des Moines
$1,309/month
706 Sq Ft
Western Gateway
$1,290/month
637 Sq Ft
East Village
$1,259/month
705 Sq Ft
Sherman Hill Historic District
$1,242/month
685 Sq Ft
Capitol Park
$1,238/month
761 Sq Ft
Civic Historic District
$1,232/month
699 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 .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Downtown Des Moines
$1,309/month
706 Sq Ft
Court District
$1,196/month
705 Sq Ft
East Village
$1,259/month
705 Sq Ft
Civic Historic District
$1,232/month
699 Sq Ft
Western Gateway
$1,290/month
637 Sq Ft
Capitol View South
$1,331/month
726 Sq Ft
Southwestern Hills
$900/month
654 Sq Ft
McKinley School-Columbus Park
$944/month
614 Sq Ft
Sherman Hill
$1,223/month
680 Sq Ft
North of Grand
$1,206/month
683 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 $1,006, you’ll want to make about $3,353 per month or $40,236 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 $853 - $1,540. You can expect to pay 1.7% less for groceries, 21.2% less for utilities, and 0.9% less for transportation.

City

Des Moines, IA

2,444 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

Chesterfield

Des Moines, IA

Greenwood

Des Moines, IA

Studio
-
-
One Bedroom
-
-
Two Bedroom
-
-
Three Bedroom
-
-
Search
Search

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

$1,175 - $2,350

1-3 Beds

Wakonda Village and Manor Apartment Homes

Wakonda Village and Manor Apartment Homes

1800 Watrous Ave,
Des Moines, IA 50315

$750 - $1,040

Studio - 2 Beds

3000 Grand Apartments

3000 Grand Apartments

3000 Grand Ave,
Des Moines, IA 50312

$1,170 - $1,430

Studio - 3 Beds

Rowat Lofts Apartments

Rowat Lofts Apartments

601 E Vine St,
Des Moines, IA 50309

$925 - $1,590

Studio - 2 Beds

Property Management Companies in Des Moines, IA

Newbury Living
Newbury Living
  • 30

    Communities

  • 2,398

    Units

  • 10

    Cities

17 Communities in Des Moines
Indigo Living
Indigo Living
  • 34

    Communities

  • 5,233

    Units

  • 13

    Cities

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

    Communities

  • 1,343

    Units

  • 4

    Cities

15 Communities in Des Moines
Kouri Management Inc.
Kouri Management Inc.
  • 30

    Communities

  • 1,901

    Units

  • 7

    Cities

12 Communities in Des Moines
Sherman Associates
Sherman Associates
  • 30

    Communities

  • 4,228

    Units

  • 11

    Cities

8 Communities in Des Moines
Premier Real Estate Services
Premier Real Estate Services
  • 12

    Communities

  • 1,134

    Units

  • 6

    Cities

8 Communities in Des Moines
Conlin Companies, Inc.
Conlin Companies, Inc.
  • 12

    Communities

  • 1,551

    Units

  • 5

    Cities

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

    Communities

  • 598

    Units

  • 5

    Cities

7 Communities in Des Moines

Learn More with Helpful Articles

The Benefits of Renters Insurance

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

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

Go the distance and find your new home.

How Much Should I Spend on Rent?

It's time to break down your budget and calculate costs.

How to Choose an Apartment Community You’ll Love

Avoid renter's remorse - know what to look for in your next apartment.

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 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 February 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.

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Notice
  • Avoid Scams
  • Accessibility
  • Blog
  • Sitemap
apartments.com
© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity

Equal Housing Opportunity

© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc.

Equal Housing Opportunity