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Rental Market Trends in Iowa City, IA

What is the average rent in Iowa City, IA?

$1,039/month

Average Rent

635 Sq Ft

Average Apartment Size

+0.4%

Increase in the Last Year

As of April 2026, the average rent in Iowa City, IA is $1,039 per month. This is 37% lower than the national average rent of $1,641/month, making renting in Iowa City more affordable than most cities in the US. When you rent an apartment in Iowa City, you can expect to pay about $1,104 per month for a studio, $1,039 for a one-bedroom apartment, and around $1,282 for a two-bedroom apartment. If you opt for a three-bedroom rental, you could pay $1,701 or more.

Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Studio
$1,104/month
536 Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,039/month
635 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,282/month
872 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,701/month
1,147 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$968/month
521 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,437/month
937 Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$1,870/month
1,432 Sq Ft
Four Bedroom
$2,531/month
1,803 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
One Bedroom
$1,264/month
652 Sq Ft
Two Bedroom
$1,203/month
880 Sq Ft
Floor Plan Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Three Bedroom
$2,148/month
1,639 Sq Ft

How much has average rent changed in Iowa City, IA?

In the past year, rent has increased by 0.4%, which averages out to $5 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 April 2026
Legend
2025 2026
Market Trends Over Time
Rent Ranges in Iowa City, IA
Last Updated April 2026
$1,001 - $1,500
Most rental prices fall within this range
Rent Ranges in Iowa City, IA
Percentage*
Rent Range
6% Below $700/month
21% $700 - $1,000/month
50% $1,001 - $1,500/month
16% $1,501 - $2,000/month
8% Above $2,000/month

Rent by Neighborhood

Last Updated Today
  • Most Affordable
  • Most Expensive
  • Most Available

What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Iowa City?

Based on current rent prices, South Iowa City, Roosevelt and Downtown Iowa City are the most affordable neighborhoods in Iowa City.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
South Iowa City
$1,162/month
656 Sq Ft
Roosevelt
$1,202/month
675 Sq Ft
Downtown Iowa City
$1,392/month
743 Sq Ft

What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Iowa City?

Based on current rent prices, Downtown Iowa City, Roosevelt and South Iowa City are the most expensive neighborhoods in Iowa City.

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Downtown Iowa City
$1,392/month
743 Sq Ft
Roosevelt
$1,202/month
675 Sq Ft
South Iowa City
$1,162/month
656 Sq Ft

Which Iowa City neighborhoods have the most rentals available?

The neighborhoods in Iowa City with the most apartments available are South Iowa City, Downtown Iowa City and Roosevelt .

Calculate Rent Affordability
Neighborhood
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
South Iowa City
$1,162/month
656 Sq Ft
Downtown Iowa City
$1,392/month
743 Sq Ft
Roosevelt
$1,202/month
675 Sq Ft
This information is based on data collected by CoStar Group researchers.†

What salary do I need to live comfortably in Iowa City, IA?

Because the average rent in Iowa City is $1,039, you’ll want to make about $3,463 per month or $41,556 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 Iowa City, IA is 7.4% lower than the national average. Generally, housing in Iowa City is 21.1% less expensive than the national average, with rent falling between $1,039 - $1,701. You can expect to pay 2.8% less for groceries, 14.0% less for utilities, and 4.4% more for transportation.

City

Iowa City, IA

913 Available Apartments for Rent

Search for Nearby Apartments

How does Iowa City, IA compare to other nearby cities and neighborhoods?

Use the tool below to compare Iowa City, 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 Iowa City, IA

Apartment Averages

South Iowa City

Iowa City, IA

Downtown Iowa City

Iowa City, IA

Studio
-
$1,046/month
One Bedroom
$1,004/month
$1,268/month
Two Bedroom
$1,131/month
$1,594/month
Three Bedroom
$1,357/month
$1,986/month
Search
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Nearby City Rent Trends

  • Coralville Average Rent
  • Tiffin Average Rent
  • North Liberty Average Rent

Apartment communities in Iowa City we think you'll love

The Hunt Club

The Hunt Club

500 Hunt Club Dr,
Tiffin, IA 52340

Call for Rent

2 Beds

The Quarters Iowa City

The Quarters Iowa City

2401 Highway 6 E,
Iowa City, IA 52240

$695 - $1,390

1-3 Beds

The Banks Student Living

The Banks Student Living

104 E 7th St,
Coralville, IA 52241

$699 - $2,370

Studio - 4 Beds

The Horizons 202 Sycamore Dr.

The Horizons 202 Sycamore Dr.

202-204 Sycamore Dr,
West Branch, IA 52358

$1,320

2 Beds

Property Management Companies in Iowa City, IA

The Tailwind Group
The Tailwind Group
  • 24

    Communities

  • 7,115

    Units

  • 18

    Cities

2 Communities in Iowa City
Haverkamp Group
Haverkamp Group
  • 20

    Communities

  • 3,930

    Units

  • 9

    Cities

2 Communities in Iowa City
High Properties
High Properties
  • 11

    Communities

  • 1,115

    Units

  • 4

    Cities

2 Communities in Iowa City
Greystar
Greystar
  • 3,486

    Communities

  • 959,251

    Units

  • 891

    Cities

1 Community in Iowa City
Monarch Investment and Management Group
Monarch Investment and Management Group
  • 320

    Communities

  • 78,002

    Units

  • 146

    Cities

1 Community in Iowa City
Perry Reid Properties
Perry Reid Properties
  • 53

    Communities

  • 6,543

    Units

  • 35

    Cities

1 Community in Iowa City
Ludwig and Company
Ludwig and Company
  • 28

    Communities

  • 3,546

    Units

  • 23

    Cities

1 Community in Iowa City
One Property Management
One Property Management
  • 11

    Communities

  • 642

    Units

  • 4

    Cities

1 Community in Iowa City

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United States Iowa Iowa City 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.

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© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity

Equal Housing Opportunity

© 2026 CoStar Group, Inc.

Equal Housing Opportunity