Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on September 17, 2026
Average rent in
Des Moines, IA
Average rent in
Last updated on September 17, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
The bottom line
Des Moines, IA rent slipped 1.7% year over year to a current median of $995/month. Renters today are paying $228 less per month on average than last year, with a month-over-month decline of 1.0%.
Compared to national trends
Des Moines sits 47.6% more affordable than the $1,900/month national median, making it an accessible market for renters seeking value. The city has a total of 351 rentals available.
Price ranges
Studios in Des Moines run around $850/month, 1-bedrooms around $835/month, and 2-bedrooms around $1,049/month, with 3-bedrooms at $1,362/month and 4+ bedrooms at $1,795/month. Apartments make up 67.1% of rentals, while houses run a median of $1,295/month.
Neighborhood spotlight
River Woods rents fell 81.0% year over year to $870/month across 18 rentals, and Woodland Heights dropped 59.4% to $825/month across 26 rentals. These declines contrast with the citywide market's modest 1.7% slip, showing localized cooldowns.
Median rent
Median rent in Des Moines
$995/mo
2%vs previous year
The average rent in Des Moines is $995 per month as of September 2026. This is 48% below the national average rent, or $905 less per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in Des Moines
351
for rent on Zumper.com as of September 2026
Rent price distribution
Share of Des Moines rentals at each price point
Rent trends in Des Moines, IA
Average rent prices in Des Moines have decreased by 1% over the last month and have decreased by 2% since last year.
Rent trends
Rent prices on this page are calculated on a rolling 30-day basis and updated daily.
Compare rent prices in
Des Moines, IA
Rent prices in Des Moines vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in Des Moines is $900, whereas a house costs $1,295. 1-bedroom apartments in Des Moines run $835 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $950.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $850 | No Change |  4% | |
1 bedroom | $835 | No Change | 33% | |
2 bedroom | $1,049 | No Change | 8% | |
3 bedroom | $1,362 | 1% | 5% | |
4 bedroom | $1,795 | 1% | 24% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Downtown Des Moines | $1,247 | |
Drake | $900 | |
East Village | $1,235 | |
Lower Beaver | $884 | |
Merle Hay | $925 | |
North Of Grand | $820 | |
River Bend | $845 | |
Salisbury Oaks | $820 | |
Sherman Hill | $925 | |
Southwestern Hills | $950 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $900 | 1% | No Change | |
Condos | $1,200 | 1% | No Change | |
Houses | $1,295 | 4% | No Change |
Studio
Average rent
$850
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
4%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$835
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
33%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$1,049
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
8%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$1,362
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
5%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$1,795
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
24%
Drake
Average rent
$900
Downtown Des Moines
Average rent
$1,247
East Village
Average rent
$1,235
North Of Grand
Average rent
$820
Southwestern Hills
Average rent
$950
Sherman Hill
Average rent
$925
Merle Hay
Average rent
$925
Salisbury Oaks
Average rent
$820
River Bend
Average rent
$845
Lower Beaver
Average rent
$884
Apartments
Average rent
$900
Last 30 days
1%
Condos
Average rent
$1,200
Last 30 days
1%
Houses
Average rent
$1,295
Last 30 days
4%
The table above reflects average rent prices in Des Moines, IA, broken down by the number of bedrooms, neighborhoods, and property types. The availability of data for each category is dependent on market inventory and will adjust depending on your selected filters.
How does rent in Des Moines, IA compare to other cities?
Compare median rent prices in Des Moines and Altoona by all bedroom counts and property types.
Des Moines
48%lower than the national median
42%lower than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in Des Moines, IA is 10% lower than the median rent in Altoona, IA.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$1,100
32%$1,395
6%$1,350
3%$1,287
15%$1,637
8%$870
11%$1,448
3%$1,465
30%$1,412
4%$1,839
5%$1,342
3%$1,375
14%Cost of living in Des Moines, IA
Explore the cost of essential expenses, and then use our rent calculator to find out how much rent you can afford.
Expenses accrued by most renters | Average cost compared to national average |
|---|---|
| Goods & Services | 8% lower |
| Groceries | 1% lower |
| Health | 16% lower |
| Housing | 37% lower |
| Transportation | 4% lower |
| Utilities | 22% lower |
Discover rentals in Des Moines, IA
3d ago
1800 9th St, Des Moines, IA 50314
1 bed
1 bath
$495–$515
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Woodland Heights apartment for rent in Des Moines
1 bed
1 bath
$511
Apartment for rent
Available Jul 27
22h ago
2901 Boston Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310
Studio–2 beds
1 bath
$647–$1,195
Apartment for rent
2d ago
2125 Indianola Ave, Des Moines, IA 50315
1–2 beds
1 bath
$675–$750
Apartment for rent
16h ago
663 17th St, Des Moines, IA 50314
3–4 beds
3–4 baths
$2,500–$3,800
Apartment for rent
7h ago
317 E 6th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$1,100–$3,650
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
East Village townhouse for rent in Des Moines
3 beds
2.5 baths
$2,795
House for rent
Available Jul 24
5d+ ago
Downtown Des Moines apartment for rent in Des Moines
2 beds
2 baths
$2,500
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 1
3h ago
4200 Park Ave, Des Moines, IA 50321
1–2 beds
1 bath
$900–$1,100
Apartment for rent
4h ago
757 17th St, Des Moines, IA 50314
2 beds
1 bath
$1,295–$1,395
Apartment for rent
7h ago
418 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
Studio–2 beds
1 bath
$895–$1,510
Apartment for rent
19h ago
Verified
2 beds
1 bath
$800
$750
Price drop
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 1
5d+ ago
Verified
2 beds
1 bath
$750
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 15
4d ago
Verified
1200 4th St, Des Moines, IA 50314
1 bed
1 bath
$860
Apartment for rent
Available Jul 1
4d ago
Verified
1200 4th St, Des Moines, IA 50314
1 bed
1 bath
$860
Apartment for rent
Available Jul 1
11h ago
200 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
Studio–1 bed
1 bath
$800–$900
Apartment for rent
12h ago
851 19th St, Des Moines, IA 50314
1 bed
1 bath
$1,225–$1,250
Apartment for rent
1d ago
7438 Meadowlands Dr, Des Moines, IA 50320
3 beds
1 bath
$1,250
House for rent
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Frequently asked questions for Des Moines, IA
Quick answers to common questions about the Des Moines rental market.
How much is rent in Des Moines?
The average rent in Des Moines is $995 per month as of September 12, 2026.
Is rent up or down in Des Moines?
Average rent prices in Des Moines have decreased by 1% over the last month and have decreased by 2% since last year.
How does Des Moines rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Des Moines is 48% below the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $905 less per month.
Which neighborhoods are most affordable in Des Moines?
The most affordable neighborhoods in Des Moines are North Of Grand ($820/mo), Salisbury Oaks ($820/mo), and River Bend ($845/mo).
What salary do I need to afford rent in Des Moines?
To comfortably afford rent in Des Moines, you'd need to earn approximately $40,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.
When is the best time of year to rent in Des Moines?
July offers the lowest rents of the year in Des Moines, while December sees the least competition among renters. Both months can result in better deals compared to peak season.
Methodology
Rent prices are based on Zumper's rental listings from the past 30 days. Median rent is calculated across all available listings and property types on the platform. If you filter the page by bedroom count or property type, the pricing throughout the page will update automatically to reflect that segment of the rental market.
Household and population data come from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cost-of-living data is sourced from the Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index (COLI).