The Meridian
425 SW 11th St,
Des Moines, IA 50309
Studio - 2 Beds | $1,477 - $2,686
Rental Market Trends in Des Moines, IA
What is the average rent in Des Moines, IA?
$996/month
Average Rent
645 Sq Ft
Average Apartment Size
+0.6%
Increase in the Last Year
As of May 2025, the average rent in Des Moines, IA is $996 per month. This is 39% lower than the national average rent of $1,625/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 $824 per month for a studio, $996 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $1,095 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $1,466 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 increased by 0.6%, which averages out to $6 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 May 2025
Legend
2024
2025
Rent Ranges in Des Moines, IA
Last Updated May 2025
$700 - $1,000
Most rental prices fall within this range
Percentage*
Rent Range
11%
Below $700/month
56%
$700 - $1,000/month
25%
$1,001 - $1,500/month
5%
$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, South Park, Indianola Hills and Briarwood Condominiums 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, Western Gateway, Downtown Des Moines and East Village 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, East Village and Court District .
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 $996, you’ll want to make about $3,320 per month or $39,840 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 13.2% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Des Moines is 31.1% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $824 - $1,466. You can expect to pay 0.5% less for groceries, 17.8% less for utilities, and 8.6% 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
-
-
One Bedroom
$672/month
-
Two Bedroom
$785/month
-
Three Bedroom
$975/month
-
Nearby City Rent Trends
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Property Management Companies in Des Moines, IA
Indigo Living
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Newbury Living
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Sherman Associates
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Conlin Companies, Inc.
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14
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7
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Perennial Properties Management
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12
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601
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5
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Premier Real Estate Services
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10
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1,069
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3
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Elevate Living Property Management
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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 2025.
* Percentages may not total 100 due to rounding.