Bedroom count
Property type
Last updated on August 2, 2026
Average rent in
Des Moines, IA
Average rent in
Last updated on August 2, 2026
Bedroom count
Property type
Key takeaways for renters
The bottom line
Des Moines, IA rent slipped modestly year over year, with a current median of $997/month. Renters are paying $72 less per month on average than last year, while month-to-month rent is unchanged recently.
Compared to national trends
Des Moines sits 48.6% more affordable than the $1,940/month national median, offering a lower-cost option for renters with 383 total rentals available.
Rent ranges by bedroom
Studios and 1-bedrooms in Des Moines rent for $844 to $848/month, 2-bedrooms at $1,075/month, 3-bedrooms at $1,395/month, and 4+ bedrooms at $1,822/month. The bedroom mix is led by 1-bed and 2-bed units, which together make up over 75% of total rentals.
Neighborhood spotlight
River Woods rents fell 78.7% year over year to $975/month across 20 rentals, a large decline compared to the modest citywide slip. Woodland Heights also cooled with a 59.8% decline to $900/month.
Median rent
Median rent in Des Moines
$997/mo
1%vs previous year
The average rent in Des Moines is $997 per month as of August 2026. This is 49% below the national average rent, or $943 less per month.
average price per square foot
Total rentals
Available rentals in Des Moines
383
for rent on Zumper.com as of August 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 increased by 1% 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 $1,297. 1-bedroom apartments in Des Moines run $850 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $997.
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $843 | 2% | 1% | |
1 bedroom | $848 | No Change |  20% | |
2 bedroom | $1,075 | 1% | No Change | |
3 bedroom | $1,395 | 1% | 1% | |
4 bedroom | $1,822 | 7% | 2% |
Listings | ||
|---|---|---|
Carpenter | $1,050 | |
Downtown Des Moines | $1,220 | |
Drake | $935 | |
East Village | $1,196 | |
Indianola Hills | $1,112 | |
Merle Hay | $930 | |
North Of Grand | $820 | |
Salisbury Oaks | $870 | |
Sherman Hill | $960 | |
Southwestern Hills | $987 |
Listings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Apartments | $915 | 1% | No Change | |
Condos | $1,150 | 5% | No Change | |
Houses | $1,297 | 5% | No Change |
Studio
Average rent
$843
Last 30 days
2%
Last year
1%
1 bedroom
Average rent
$848
Last 30 days
No Change
Last year
20%
2 bedroom
Average rent
$1,075
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
No Change
3 bedroom
Average rent
$1,395
Last 30 days
1%
Last year
1%
4 bedroom
Average rent
$1,822
Last 30 days
7%
Last year
2%
Drake
Average rent
$935
Downtown Des Moines
Average rent
$1,220
North Of Grand
Average rent
$820
East Village
Average rent
$1,196
Sherman Hill
Average rent
$960
Southwestern Hills
Average rent
$987
Merle Hay
Average rent
$930
Indianola Hills
Average rent
$1,112
Salisbury Oaks
Average rent
$870
Carpenter
Average rent
$1,050
Apartments
Average rent
$915
Last 30 days
1%
Condos
Average rent
$1,150
Last 30 days
5%
Houses
Average rent
$1,297
Last 30 days
5%
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
45%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
$1,062
26%$1,450
2%$2,075
46%$1,595
17%$1,395
5%$857
9%$1,488
19%$1,330
30%$1,450
4%$1,850
3%$1,395
6%$1,151
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 | 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 #25, Des Moines, IA 50320
2 beds
1 bath
$550
House for rent
Available Jul 24
1d ago
2901 Boston Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310
Studio–2 beds
1 bath
$597–$827
Apartment for rent
1d ago
2800 Fleur Dr, Des Moines, IA 50321
1–3 beds
1–2 baths
$675–$950
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
North of Grand apartment for rent in Des Moines
2 beds
1 bath
$675
Apartment for rent
Available Oct 2
1d ago
317 E 6th St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$1,100–$4,000
Apartment for rent
2d ago
East Village townhouse for rent in Des Moines
3 beds
2.5 baths
$2,895
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
19h ago
Waterbury townhouse for rent in Des Moines
4844 Ingersoll Ave #4844, Des Moines, IA 50312
3 beds
2.5 baths
$2,395
House for rent
Available Oct 5
30m ago
601 E Vine St, Des Moines, IA 50309
Studio–2 beds
1–2 baths
$995–$1,585
Apartment for rent
2d ago
418 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
Studio–2 beds
1 bath
$960–$1,510
Apartment for rent
2d ago
2530 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311
Studio–2 beds
1 bath
$695–$1,495
Price drop
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
800 Broad St #2, Des Moines, IA 50315
2 beds
1 bath
$900
House for rent
Available Jul 1
5d+ ago
Verified
2 beds
1 bath
$825
Apartment for rent
Available Aug 1
5d+ ago
Verified
2 beds
1 bath
$800
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 Jun 4
2d ago
2530 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311
Studio–2 beds
1 bath
$695–$1,395
Price drop
Apartment for rent
3d ago
4534 4532, 4534 & 4536 Douglas Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50310
2 beds
2 baths
$1,150
Apartment for rent
5d+ ago
Verified
800 Broad St #2, Des Moines, IA 50315
2 beds
1 bath
$900
House for rent
Available Jul 1
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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 $997 per month as of August 1, 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 increased by 1% 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 $943 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 ($870/mo), and Merle Hay ($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?
Based on Zumper's July 2026 data, one-bedroom apartments in Des Moines average around $870/month and two-bedrooms approximately $1,050/month.
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).