Average Rent in Ames, IA
What is the average rent in Ames, IA?
The average listed apartment rent in Ames, IA is $1,137 per month, as of November 8, 2026. This sample includes 139 priced apartments in 10 buildings. These are tracked asking prices, not signed leases.
We use published total monthly rent when known and base rent otherwise. Unknown fees remain unknown. Included building observations run from November 1, 2026 through November 8, 2026. Buildings without a qualifying price do not count in this sample. The guide directory can include more buildings.
10 apartment buildings, 139 units. Recorded asking prices and price history where available.
Browse apartments in Ames, IACheapest
$670/mo
Unique Apartment Homes
Properties
10
tracked daily
Units
139
available now
Ames, IA Resident Access
City Club members share insider gate codes, parking links, and amenity tips.
Analysis
Rent Price Breakdown
Compare pricing across all 10 properties in Ames, IA.
Average rent trend, last 3 months
All bedroom types, citywide. Choose a window above to scope the view.
Average Rent by Property
Starting Price vs Average
Rent by Bedroom Count
Price per Square Foot
Ames, IA Rent Prices
All 10 properties ranked by lowest available rent.
The Landing Ames
416 Billy Sunday Rd, Ames, IA 50010, USA
Unique Apartment Homes
2408 Chamberlain St #101, Ames, IA 50014, USA
Riverbirch
201 S 5th St, Ames, IA 50010, USA
South Oak
221 S Oak Ave, Ames, IA 50010, USA
South Meadow
321 S 5th St, Ames, IA 50010, USA
The Foundry
2300 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50014, USA
Maple Glen
229 S 5th St, Ames, IA 50010, USA
| # | Property | From | Avg | $/sqft | Rating | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Landing Ames 416 Billy Sunday Rd, Ames, IA 50010, USA | $495 as of Oct 2 | $519 | $0.47/ft² | 4.4 (274) | 7 |
| 2 | Unique Apartment Homes 2408 Chamberlain St #101, Ames, IA 50014, USA | $670 | $1,483 | $1.51/ft² | 3.9 (211) | 43 |
| 3 | Riverbirch 201 S 5th St, Ames, IA 50010, USA | $695 | $852 | $1.36/ft² | 4.4 (33) | 5 |
| 4 | South Oak 221 S Oak Ave, Ames, IA 50010, USA | $695 | $836 | $1.42/ft² | 3.7 (6) | 13 |
| 5 | South Meadow 321 S 5th St, Ames, IA 50010, USA | $799 | $942 | $1.35/ft² | 4.1 (58) | 27 |
| 6 | The Foundry 2300 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50014, USA | $799 | $849 | $0.75/ft² | 4.6 (135) | 2 |
| 7 | Maple Glen 229 S 5th St, Ames, IA 50010, USA | $860 | $933 | $1.33/ft² | 4.1 (15) | 3 |
Rent & Price History by Building
Compare apartment listings by price, bedrooms, and neighborhood.
The Landing Ames
4.4 (274)416 Billy Sunday Rd, Ames, IA 50010, USA
Unique Apartment Homes
3.9 (211)2408 Chamberlain St #101, Ames, IA 50014, USA
Riverbirch
4.4 (33)201 S 5th St, Ames, IA 50010, USA
South Oak
3.7 (6)221 S Oak Ave, Ames, IA 50010, USA
South Meadow
4.1 (58)321 S 5th St, Ames, IA 50010, USA
The Foundry
4.6 (135)2300 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50014, USA
By Area
Ames, IA neighborhoods
Tracked buildings across 2 named neighborhoods. Pick one to see its apartments.
Ames, IA Average Rent Prices 2026
The average listed rent in Ames, IA is $1,137 per month, based on 139 units across 10 apartment communities. Prices range from $670 at Unique Apartment Homes to $2,960 at Unique Apartment Homes.
Average Rent by Bedroom Type
| Type | Avg Rent | Starting From | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $738/mo | $695/mo | 4 |
| 1 Bed | $869/mo | $670/mo | 43 |
| 2 Bed | $1,081/mo | $850/mo | 62 |
| 3 Bed | $1,372/mo | $999/mo | 17 |
| 4 Bed | $2,103/mo | $799/mo | 13 |
We schedule daily price checks. The included observations can have different dates. Request an area we do not cover so we can review it for coverage.
Market Context
Who rents in Ames, IA, and what they pay
Tracked one-bedroom rent in Ames, IA averages $869/mo , with two-bedroom units averaging $1,081/mo. At the local median household income of $60,102, that works out to 23% of gross income, well within the 25 percent comfortable-rent threshold.
The U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 2023 release pegged median gross rent in Ames, IA at $1,040/mo. The current tracked market average runs 9% higher than that benchmark, reflecting both two to three years of rent growth and the fact that the Census figure covers all renter-occupied housing in Ames, IA while the tracked market average covers units currently listed in larger apartment communities.
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Ames, IA?
Built on the 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
Minimum to afford average rent
$45,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $1,137/mo.
Comfortable income
$55,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($670/mo), you need to earn at least $27,000/year.
Median household income in Ames, IA is $60,102 , about 10% above the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Ames, IA
Overall prices in Ames, IA runs below the national average by about 9% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 91.5, where 100 equals the U.S. average). The breakdown below estimates monthly costs for a single adult, using national consumer-spending baselines from the Bureau of Labor Statistics scaled by Ames, IA's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $1,137 |
| Utilities | $343 |
| Groceries | $522 |
| Transportation | $818 |
| Healthcare | $399 |
| Other goods and services | $638 |
| Estimated total | $3,857/mo |
Population
66,112
Median household income
$60,102
Census median rent
$1,040/mo
Census rent burden
31.7%
Median age
23.3
Mean commute
16 min
Methodology
Rent data
We use listed asking rents and schedule daily data updates. Individual buildings can have different verification dates. Check the building or unit page for its latest price and availability.
Cost of living
Estimates combine national consumer-spending baselines from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Consumer Expenditure Survey) with the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (MARPP dataset). Both are peer-reviewed federal data releases published annually.
Salary to live comfortably
We estimate annual income by dividing annual rent by 30 percent for the affordability figure and 25 percent for the comfortable-income figure. These estimates are a guide, not a guarantee of rental approval.
Demographic figures
Median household income, population, median age, commute time, Census median rent, and rent as percentage of income come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the most recent complete release.
Cost of living and demographic figures were last published in 2023.
Compare
Nearby cities in Iowa
How Ames, IA rent compares to other markets in the state.
| City | Avg Rent | vs Ames, IA | 30-Day Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Des Moines, IA | $1,433 | +26% | +1% | 19 |
| Ankeny, IA | $1,387 | +22% | +12.1% | 14 |
| Des Moines, IA | $1,301 | +14% | +6.3% | 14 |
| Boone, IA | $17,653 | +1453% | +884.1% | 11 |
| Sioux City, IA | $1,011 | -11% | -4.2% | 11 |
| Davenport, IA | $792 | -30% | -18.2% | 10 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Ames, IA?
The average listed apartment rent in Ames, IA is $1,137 per month, as of November 8, 2026. This sample includes 139 priced apartments in 10 buildings. These are tracked asking prices, not signed leases.
What is the median rent in Ames, IA?
The median asking rent in Ames, IA is $950 per month, computed from 139 priced listings; check the observation dates shown on this page. The average is $1,137/mo; the median resists skew from luxury listings.
What is the cheapest apartment rent in Ames, IA?
The lowest available rent in Ames, IA starts at $670 per month. Confirm current availability, fees, and lease terms with the selected listing.
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Ames, IA?
1-bedroom apartments in Ames, IA average $869/mo. The lowest listed 1-bedroom starts at $670/mo across 43 units tracked.
How much is a 2-bedroom apartment in Ames, IA?
2-bedroom apartments in Ames, IA average $1,081/mo. Units start from $850/mo across 62 units currently listed.
Rent Trends in Ames, IA
Track how apartment prices are changing over time.
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