Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on November 1, 2026
Average rent in
Des Moines, IA
Average rent in
Last updated on November 1, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
Where Des Moines rent stands today
Des Moines, IA rent is essentially flat year over year, with a current median of $995/month. Renters are paying roughly the same as last year, with a month-over-month change also near zero and no meaningful movement in rents.
Compared to national trends
Des Moines is 47.6% more affordable than the $1,900/month national median, making it one of the more accessible Midwestern metros for renters seeking value. The market includes 392 total rentals, providing moderate choice.
Price ranges
Studios in Des Moines run around $852/month, 1-bedrooms at $820/month, and 2-bedrooms at $1,050/month, with 3-bedrooms and 4+ bedrooms rising to $1,425 and $1,785 respectively. These bedroom tiers reflect the range most renters encounter.
What you'll pay
Apartments make up 64.2% of rentals with a median rent of $895/month, while houses rent for $1,350/month, showing distinct price tiers by property type. This split offers options for renters based on housing preferences.
Median rent
Median rent in Des Moines
$995/mo
vs previous year
The average rent in Des Moines is $995 per month as of October 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
392
for rent on Zumper.com as of October 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 remained the same 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 $895, whereas a house costs $1,350. 1-bedroom apartments in Des Moines run $820 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $950.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $852 |  1% |  14% | |
1 bedroom | $820 | No Change | 2% | |
2 bedroom | $1,050 | No Change | 2% | |
3 bedroom | $1,425 | 6% | 4% | |
4 bedroom | $1,785 | 8% | 7% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Downtown Des Moines | $1,358 | |
Drake | $897 | |
East Village | $1,247 | |
Indianola Hills | $1,100 | |
Merle Hay | $1,005 | |
North Of Grand | $820 | |
River Bend | $800 | |
Salisbury Oaks | $820 | |
Sherman Hill | $925 | |
Southwestern Hills | $1,049 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $895 | No Change | No Change | |
Condos | $1,150 | 5% | 3% | |
Houses | $1,350 | 3% | 2% |
Studio
Average rent
$852
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
14%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$820
Last year
2%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$1,050
Last year
2%
3 bedroom
Average rent
$1,425
Last 30 days
6%
Last year
4%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$1,785
Last 30 days
8%
Last year
7%
Drake
Average rent
$897
East Village
Average rent
$1,247
Downtown Des Moines
Average rent
$1,358
North Of Grand
Average rent
$820
Sherman Hill
Average rent
$925
Southwestern Hills
Average rent
$1,049
River Bend
Average rent
$800
Merle Hay
Average rent
$1,005
Salisbury Oaks
Average rent
$820
Indianola Hills
Average rent
$1,100
Apartments
Average rent
$895
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
No Change
Condos
Average rent
$1,150
Last 30 days
5%
Last year
3%
Houses
Average rent
$1,350
Last 30 days
3%
Last year
2%
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
44%lower than the national median
Takeaway
The median rent for all rentals in Des Moines, IA is 6% lower than the median rent in Altoona, IA.
Average rent in nearby cities
Explore rent trends in neighboring markets
$1,063
1%$1,414
1%$1,025
16%$1,495
50%$1,575
12%$1,065
4%$1,575
7%$1,457
8%$1,443
13%$1,822
7%$1,350
8%$1,315
4%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 | 15% lower |
| Housing | 38% lower |
| Transportation | 5% lower |
| Utilities | 23% lower |
Discover rentals in Des Moines, IA
2d ago
2125 Indianola Ave, Des Moines, IA 50315
1–2 beds
1 bath
$650–$750
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
4d ago
Capitol East condo for rent in Des Moines
2 beds
1 bath
$675
Total Monthly Price. The price shown includes base rent and all known required monthly fees, based on information provided by the property.Condo for rent
Available Sep 25
5d+ ago
Verified
2 beds
1 bath
$708
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
Available Aug 1
2d ago
3411 E 26th St, Des Moines, IA 50317
2 beds
1 bath
$725
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
4d ago
663 17th St, Des Moines, IA 50314
4 beds
4 baths
$3,800
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
1d ago
317 E 6th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$1,100–$3,650
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Downtown Des Moines townhouse for rent in Des Moines
3 beds
2.5 baths
$2,725
Total Monthly Price. The price shown includes base rent and all known required monthly fees, based on information provided by the property.House for rent
Available Oct 23
5d+ ago
Sherman Hill condo for rent in Des Moines
3 beds
2.5 baths
$2,555
Total Monthly Price. The price shown includes base rent and all known required monthly fees, based on information provided by the property.Condo for rent
Available Nov 6
1d ago
Verified
660 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Studio–1 bed
1 bath
$897–$1,295
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
1d ago
405 6th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$810–$1,295
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
1d ago
851 19th St, Des Moines, IA 50314
1 bed
1 bath
$1,225
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
1d ago
3333 Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312
1–2 beds
1 bath
$900–$1,125
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
Studio
1 bath
$596
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
Available Jul 15
5d+ ago
Verified
2 beds
1 bath
$750
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
Available Aug 1
1d ago
Verified
660 E 5th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Studio–1 bed
1 bath
$897–$1,295
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
2 beds
1 bath
$750
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
Available Aug 15
5h ago
Verified
1200 4th St, Des Moines, IA 50314
1 bed
1 bath
$860
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
Available Jul 1
1d ago
851 19th St, Des Moines, IA 50314
1 bed
1 bath
$1,225
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.Apartment for rent
1d ago
7438 Meadowlands Dr, Des Moines, IA 50320
3 beds
1 bath
$1,250
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.House for rent
2d ago
4010 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311
2 beds
1 bath
$900
Fees may apply. The price shown reflects base rent. Complete fee information is not available from the property, so additional fees may increase the total monthly cost.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 October 31, 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 remained the same 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 River Bend ($800/mo), North Of Grand ($820/mo), and Salisbury Oaks ($820/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).