Average Rent in Des Moines, IA and Rent Price Trends

Rent price summary for
Des Moines, IA

As of September 2025, the median rent for all bedroom counts and property types in Des Moines, IA is $1,012. This is -49% lower than the national average.

$1.32

average price per square foot

Median rent

$1,012

12%

over the previous yearvs previous year

Total rentals

332

for rent on Zumper.com

As of September 2025, the median rent for all bedroom counts and property types in Des Moines, IA is $1,012. This is -49% lower than the national average.

$1.32

average price per square foot

Rent ranges

17%

64%

14%

$0-$750$0 - $750

$751-$1,500$751 - $1,500

$1,501-$2,250$1,501 - $2,250

$2,251-$3,000$2,251 - $3,000

$3,001+$3,001+

Households

60%

40%

Owner-occupied

Renter-occupied

Median rent and rent ranges are based on Zumper inventory in the last 30 days. Household data are provided by the US Census Bureau.

Rent comparables in
Des Moines, IA
The monthly rent for an apartment in Des Moines, IA is $913. A 1-bedroom apartment in Des Moines, IA costs about $870 on average, while a 2-bedroom apartment is $950. Houses for rent in Des Moines, IA are more expensive, with an average monthly cost of $1,495.


1 bedroom	$870	4%	28%
2 bedroom	$1,045	7%	7%
3 bedroom	$1,395	2%	9%
4 bedroom	$1,985	7%	21%
Studio	$750	3%	1%

		Comparables
Beaverdale	$925
Downtown Des Moines	$1,281
Drake	$800
East Village	$1,192
Highland Park	$747
Lower Beaver	$850
Merle Hay	$1,100
North Of Grand	$1,004
Sherman Hill	$1,050
Southwestern Hills	$1,043


Apartments	$913	5%	No Change
Condos	$1,095	2%	No Change
Houses	$1,495	1%	No Change
Rooms	$707	11%	-

Studio

Average rent

$750

Last 30 days

Last year

1 bedroom

Average rent

$870

Last 30 days

Last year

28%

2 bedroom

Average rent

$1,045

Last 30 days

Last year

3 bedroom

Average rent

$1,395

Last 30 days

Last year

4 bedroom

Average rent

$1,985

Last 30 days

Last year

21%

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.

Compare rent prices in Des Moines, IA to other cities

Median rent prices in Des Moines, IA for all bedroom counts and property types compared to Altoona, IA.

Des Moines

Median rent price$1,012

49%

lower than the national median

Median rent price$1,395

29%

lower than the national median

Takeaway

The median rent for all rentals in Des Moines, IA is 27% lower than the median rent in Altoona, IA.

More data insights and reports

National Rent Report

Canadian Rent Report

Annual Rent Report

Are you interested in licensing our current and historical rental real estate data, or do you have custom data requests? Contact datalicensing@zumper.com.

Average rent in
Nearby cities
Explore rent trends in other markets

Altoona

$1,395

52%

Last year

Ankeny

$1,449

Last year

Bondurant

$1,180

25%

Last year

Clive

$1,375

Last year

Grimes

$1,925

14%

Last year

Indianola

$1,110

Last year

Johnston

$1,515

13%

Last year

Pleasant Hill

$1,475

56%

Last year

Urbandale

$1,250

16%

Last year

Waukee

$1,825

11%

Last year

West Des Moines

$1,278

Flat

Last year

Windsor Heights

$1,115

11%

Last year

Cost of living in
Des Moines, IA

The overall cost of living in Des Moines, IA is 14% lower than the national average. Explore the cost of essential expenses, then use our rent calculator to help set your budget.