Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on June 18, 2026
Average rent in
Des Moines, IA
Average rent in
Last updated on June 18, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
The bottom line
Des Moines, IA rent slipped 2.9% year over year, with a current median of $995/month. Renters today are paying $106 less per month on average than last year, continuing a downward trend since the 2024 peak of $1,195/month.
Compared to national trends
Des Moines sits 49.0% more affordable than the $1,950/month national median, offering a lower-cost rental market with 371 total rentals available across the city.
Price ranges
Studios in Des Moines run around $804/month, 1-bedrooms around $870/month, and 2-bedrooms around $1,067/month, with 4+ bedrooms reaching $1,850/month. Houses rent for a median of $1,345/month while apartments sit at $915/month, reflecting distinct price tiers for renters.
Neighborhood spotlight
River Woods rents fell 76.5% year over year to $1,075/month, Woodland Heights dropped 55.8% to $990/month, and Grays Lake declined 55.0% to $1,125/month. These steep local declines contrast with the citywide 2.9% drop and show significant variation within Des Moines.
Median rent
Median rent in Des Moines
$995/mo
3%vs previous year
The average rent in Des Moines is $995 per month as of June 2026. This is 49% below the national average rent, or $955 less per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in Des Moines
371
for rent on Zumper.com as of June 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 remained the same over the last month and have decreased by 3% 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 $915, whereas a house costs $1,345. 1-bedroom apartments in Des Moines run $870 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $980.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $804 |  2% | 8% | |
1 bedroom | $870 | 3% | 19% | |
2 bedroom | $1,067 | No Change | 7% | |
3 bedroom | $1,395 | 2% | No Change | |
4 bedroom | $1,850 | 8% | 12% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Beaverdale | $1,118 | |
Carpenter | $1,075 | |
Downtown Des Moines | $1,215 | |
Drake | $930 | |
East Village | $1,130 | |
Merle Hay | $905 | |
North Of Grand | $870 | |
Sherman Hill | $972 | |
Southwestern Hills | $1,025 | |
Watrous South | $1,049 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $915 | 1% | No Change | |
Condos | $1,200 | 21% | No Change | |
Houses | $1,345 | 3% | No Change |
Studio
Average rent
$804
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
8%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$870
Last 30 days
3%
Last year
19%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$1,067
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
7%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$1,395
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
No Change
4 bedroom
Average rent
$1,850
Last 30 days
8%
Last year
12%
Drake
Average rent
$930
Downtown Des Moines
Average rent
$1,215
North Of Grand
Average rent
$870
East Village
Average rent
$1,130
Merle Hay
Average rent
$905
Sherman Hill
Average rent
$972
Southwestern Hills
Average rent
$1,025
Beaverdale
Average rent
$1,118
Carpenter
Average rent
$1,075
Watrous South
Average rent
$1,049
Apartments
Average rent
$915
Last 30 days
1%
Condos
Average rent
$1,200
Last 30 days
21%
Houses
Average rent
$1,345
Last 30 days
3%
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
49%lower than the national median
43%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
$1,105
27%$1,384
$1,760
21%$2,335
31%$1,475
1%$1,137
26%$1,475
16%$1,397
24%$1,450
1%$1,800
6%$1,370
6%$1,149
1%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
5d+ ago
Pioneer Park house for rent in Des Moines
2825 Se 14th St #50, Des Moines, IA 50320
1 bed
1 bath
$550
House for rent
Available May 22
5d+ ago
Pioneer Park house for rent in Des Moines
2825 Se 14th St #39, Des Moines, IA 50320
1 bed
1 bath
$550
House for rent
Available May 22
5d+ ago
Pioneer Park house for rent in Des Moines
2825 Se 14th St #22, Des Moines, IA 50320
1 bed
1 bath
$550
House for rent
Available May 22
5d+ ago
Pioneer Park house for rent in Des Moines
2825 Se 14th St #14, Des Moines, IA 50320
1 bed
1 bath
$550
House for rent
Available May 22
13h ago
317 E 6th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$1,259–$4,000
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Downtown Des Moines apartment for rent in Des Moines
2 beds
2 baths
$2,500
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 1
9h ago
1328 Thomas Beck Rd, Des Moines, IA 50315
2 beds
2 baths
$2,300–$2,400
House for rent
3d ago
Beaverdale house for rent in Des Moines
2909 46th St #1, Des Moines, IA 50310
3 beds
1.5 baths
$2,385
House for rent
Available Jul 1
5h ago
2530 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311
Studio–2 beds
1 bath
$795–$1,750
Apartment for rent
6h ago
418 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
Studio–2 beds
1 bath
$980–$1,495
Apartment for rent
6h ago
4200 Park Ave, Des Moines, IA 50321
1–2 beds
1–2 baths
$850–$1,200
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
1 bed
1 bath
$1,395
Apartment for rent
Available Nov 22
5d+ ago
Verified
Studio
1 bath
$700
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 15
5d+ ago
Verified
1 bed
1 bath
$730
Apartment for rent
Available Sep 15
1d ago
Verified
1200 4th St, Des Moines, IA 50314
1 bed
1 bath
$860
Apartment for rent
Available Mar 3
15h ago
4534 4532, 4534 & 4536 Douglas Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50310
2 beds
2 baths
$1,045–$1,150
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
1217 24th St, Des Moines, IA 50311
Studio
1 bath
$815
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
2530 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311
Studio
1 bath
$795–$945
Apartment 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 June 13, 2026.
Is rent up or down in Des Moines?
Average rent prices in Des Moines have remained the same over the last month and have decreased by 3% since last year.
How does Des Moines rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Des Moines is 49% below the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $955 less per month.
Which neighborhoods are most affordable in Des Moines?
The most affordable neighborhoods in Des Moines are North Of Grand ($870/mo), Merle Hay ($905/mo), and Drake ($930/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?
Des Moines's 2025 rental market shows one-bedroom apartments averaging around $890 per month, while two-bedroom units rent for around $1,100 monthly. These figures reflect the current market conditions across Iowa's capital city.
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).