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Rental Market Trends in Des Moines, IA

What is the average rent in Des Moines, IA?

$1,010/month

Average Rent

644 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+0.3%

Increase in the Last Year

As of June 2026, the average rent in Des Moines, IA is $1,010 per month. This is 39% lower than the national average rent of $1,644/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 $850 per month for a studio, $1,010 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $1,120 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $1,529 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$850/month
447 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,010/month
644 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,120/month
915 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,529/month
1,180 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$817/month
480 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,157/month
799 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,510/month
1,032 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$2,110/month
1,613 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,431/month
731 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,502/month
973 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,227/month
866 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,324/month
1,064 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,832/month
1,577 Sq Ft

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

In the past year, rent has increased by 0.3%, which averages out to $4 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
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Des Moines, IA
Last Updated June 2026
$700 - $1,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in Des Moines, IA
Percentage*
Rent Range
10% Below $700/month
56% $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, Chesterfield, Indianola Hills and Watrous South are the most affordable neighborhoods in Des Moines.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Chesterfield
$736/month
500 Sq Ft
Indianola Hills
$792/month
538 Sq Ft
Watrous South
$841/month
594 Sq Ft
Sheridan Gardens
$848/month
672 Sq Ft
Greater South Side
$870/month
657 Sq Ft
Southwestern Hills
$881/month
658 Sq Ft
South Park
$908/month
632 Sq Ft
McKinley School-Columbus Park
$914/month
585 Sq Ft
Carpenter
$920/month
584 Sq Ft
Ingersoll Park
$921/month
607 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Des Moines?

Based on current rent prices, Greenwood, Downtown Des Moines and East Village are the most expensive neighborhoods in Des Moines.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Greenwood
$1,297/month
667 Sq Ft
Downtown Des Moines
$1,294/month
692 Sq Ft
East Village
$1,248/month
695 Sq Ft
Salisbury Oaks
$1,237/month
688 Sq Ft
Haines Park-Owl's Head Estates
$1,200/month
685 Sq Ft
Woodland Heights
$1,164/month
672 Sq Ft
North of Grand
$1,102/month
631 Sq Ft
Sherman Hill
$1,085/month
653 Sq Ft
Drake
$1,005/month
603 Sq Ft
Merle Hay
$940/month
674 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 Southwestern Hills .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Downtown Des Moines
$1,294/month
692 Sq Ft
East Village
$1,248/month
695 Sq Ft
Southwestern Hills
$881/month
658 Sq Ft
Sherman Hill
$1,085/month
653 Sq Ft
Haines Park-Owl's Head Estates
$1,200/month
685 Sq Ft
McKinley School-Columbus Park
$914/month
585 Sq Ft
Woodland Heights
$1,164/month
672 Sq Ft
Drake
$1,005/month
603 Sq Ft
North of Grand
$1,102/month
631 Sq Ft
Greater South Side
$870/month
657 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 $1,010, you’ll want to make about $3,366 per month or $40,392 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 $850 - $1,529. 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

2,564 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

Apartment communities in Des Moines we think you'll love

Mezzo on Walnut

Mezzo on Walnut

606 Walnut St,
Des Moines, IA 50309

$1,100 - $2,900

Studio - 2 Beds

Cityville

Cityville

550 SW 9th St,
Des Moines, IA 50309

$940 - $2,250

Studio - 3 Beds

LINC at Gray's Station

LINC at Gray's Station

210 SW 11th St,
Des Moines, IA 50309

$1,195 - $2,815

Studio - 4 Beds

The Meridian

The Meridian

425 SW 11th St,
Des Moines, IA 50309

$1,288 - $2,384

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
Knapp Properties, LC.
Knapp Properties, LC.
  • 21

    Communities

  • 1,369

    Units

  • 5

    Cities

15 Communities in Des Moines
Indigo Living
Indigo Living
  • 31

    Communities

  • 4,922

    Units

  • 13

    Cities

12 Communities in Des Moines
Kouri Management Inc.
Kouri Management Inc.
  • 27

    Communities

  • 1,858

    Units

  • 6

    Cities

11 Communities in Des Moines
Conlin Companies, Inc.
Conlin Companies, Inc.
  • 13

    Communities

  • 1,604

    Units

  • 5

    Cities

9 Communities in Des Moines
Sherman Associates
Sherman Associates
  • 31

    Communities

  • 4,318

    Units

  • 12

    Cities

8 Communities in Des Moines
Premier Real Estate Services
Premier Real Estate Services
  • 11

    Communities

  • 1,108

    Units

  • 5

    Cities

8 Communities in Des Moines
ARTISAN Capital Group
ARTISAN Capital Group
  • 24

    Communities

  • 4,608

    Units

  • 16

    Cities

5 Communities in Des Moines

Learn More with Helpful Articles

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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 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.

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© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc.

Equal Housing Opportunity