Average Rent in Des Moines, IA
15 apartment buildings, 120 units. Daily asking prices with rent history for every building.
Cheapest
$640/mo
Drake West Village
Properties
15
tracked daily
Units
120
available now
Des Moines, IA Resident Access
City Club members share insider gate codes, parking links, and amenity tips.
Analysis
Rent Price Breakdown
Compare pricing across all 15 properties in Des Moines, IA.
Average rent trend, last 2 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
Des Moines, IA Rent Prices
All 15 properties ranked by lowest available rent.
Drake West Village
1315 31st St, Des Moines, IA 50311, USA
Canary Lofts
2530 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311, USA
Sutton Hill
2100 SE King Ave, Des Moines, IA 50320, USA
Swift Properties
2580 Fleur Dr, Des Moines, IA 50321, USA
Wakonda Village Apartments
1800 Watrous Ave, Des Moines, IA 50315, USA
Melbourne
5515 SE 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50320, USA
District at 6th
201 SE 6th St, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA
| # | Property | From | Avg | $/sqft | Rating | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drake West Village 1315 31st St, Des Moines, IA 50311, USA | $640 | $807 | $1.17 | 4 (94) | 3 |
| 2 | Canary Lofts 2530 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311, USA | $695 | $783 | $1.98 | 3.1 (39) | 2 |
| 3 | Sutton Hill 2100 SE King Ave, Des Moines, IA 50320, USA | $730 | $881 | $1.22 | 4 (107) | 5 |
| 4 | Swift Properties 2580 Fleur Dr, Des Moines, IA 50321, USA | $795 | $1,232 | $1.43 | 3 (77) | 13 |
| 5 | Wakonda Village Apartments 1800 Watrous Ave, Des Moines, IA 50315, USA | $795 | $913 | $1.60 | 4 (380) | 6 |
| 6 | Melbourne 5515 SE 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50320, USA | $917 | $917 | $1.40 | 3.9 (91) | 1 |
| 7 | District at 6th 201 SE 6th St, Des Moines, IA 50309, USA | $939 | $1,367 | $1.64 | 3.5 (96) | 22 |
Rent & Price History by Building
Drake West Village
4 (94)1315 31st St, Des Moines, IA 50311, USA
Canary Lofts
3.1 (39)2530 University Ave, Des Moines, IA 50311, USA
Sutton Hill
4 (107)2100 SE King Ave, Des Moines, IA 50320, USA
Swift Properties
3 (77)2580 Fleur Dr, Des Moines, IA 50321, USA
Wakonda Village Apartments
4 (380)1800 Watrous Ave, Des Moines, IA 50315, USA
Melbourne
3.9 (91)5515 SE 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50320, USA
By Area
Des Moines, IA neighborhoods
Tracked buildings across 5 named neighborhoods. Pick one to see its apartments.
Des Moines, IA Average Rent Prices 2026
The average rent in Des Moines, IA is $1,281 per month, based on 120 units across 15 apartment communities. Prices range from $640 at Drake West Village to $2,395 at Level.
Average Rent by Bedroom Type
| Type | Avg Rent | Starting From | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,220/mo | $695/mo | 34 |
| 1 Bed | $1,200/mo | $730/mo | 49 |
| 2 Bed | $1,358/mo | $770/mo | 30 |
| 3 Bed | $2,153/mo | $1,795/mo | 4 |
| 4 Bed | $1,343/mo | $640/mo | 3 |
Every price is a real asking rent, updated that morning. Request a neighborhood we don't cover and we add it within 24 hours.
Market Context
Who rents in Des Moines, IA, and what they pay
Tracked one-bedroom rent in Des Moines, IA averages $1,200/mo, with two-bedroom units averaging $1,358/mo. At the local median household income of $63,966, that works out to 24% 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 Des Moines, IA at $1,054/mo. The current tracked market average runs 22% 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 Des Moines, IA while the tracked market average covers units currently listed in larger apartment communities.
Who employs renters in Des Moines
Demand in the Des Moines rental market is shaped by the metro's largest private and public employers. The following organizations anchor local hiring and influence what renters can pay:
- Principal Financial
- Wells Fargo
- Nationwide Insurance
- UnityPoint Health
Mean one-way commute in Des Moines, IA is 20 minutes, per the Census ACS, useful context when weighing which properties sit inside reasonable reach of these employers.
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Des Moines, 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
$51,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $1,281/mo.
Comfortable income
$61,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($640/mo), you need to earn at least $26,000/year.
Median household income in Des Moines, IA is $63,966 , about 4% above the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Des Moines, IA
Overall prices in Des Moines, IA runs below the national average by about 7% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 92.8, 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 Des Moines, IA's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $1,281 |
| Utilities | $370 |
| Groceries | $522 |
| Transportation | $882 |
| Healthcare | $430 |
| Other goods and services | $688 |
| Estimated total | $4,173/mo |
Population
212,464
Median household income
$63,966
Census median rent
$1,054/mo
Rent as % of income
28.8%
Median age
34.6
Mean commute
20 min
Methodology
Rent data
Sourced directly from each tracked apartment community and refreshed every 24 hours. Every listed unit price on this page is real and listed today.
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
Applies the standard 25 to 30 percent rent-to-income rule on top of the listed rent. This is the same affordability guideline used by most landlords and credit-scoring models.
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 Des Moines, IA rent compares to other markets in the state.
| City | Avg Rent | vs Des Moines, IA | 30-Day Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ames, IA | $1,008 | -21% | -8.8% | 13 |
| Ankeny, IA | $1,431 | +12% | -1% | 11 |
| West Des Moines, IA | $1,626 | +27% | +1% | 10 |
| Sioux City, IA | $1,131 | -12% | -1.1% | 9 |
| Waterloo, IA | $1,519 | +19% | +21.1% | 9 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,302 | +2% | +14.2% | 7 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Des Moines, IA?
The average rent in Des Moines, IA is $1,281 per month, based on 120 units across 15 apartment buildings tracked by Average Rent. Prices are refreshed daily.
What is the median rent in Des Moines, IA?
The median asking rent in Des Moines, IA is $1,273 per month, computed from 120 live listed units and refreshed daily. The average is $1,281/mo; the median resists skew from luxury listings.
What is the cheapest apartment rent in Des Moines, IA?
The lowest available rent in Des Moines, IA starts at $640 per month. Availability changes daily and prices are refreshed each morning.
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Des Moines, IA?
1-bedroom apartments in Des Moines, IA average $1,200/mo. The lowest listed 1-bedroom starts at $730/mo across 49 units tracked.
How much is a 2-bedroom apartment in Des Moines, IA?
2-bedroom apartments in Des Moines, IA average $1,358/mo. Units start from $770/mo across 30 units currently listed.
Rent Trends in Des Moines, IA
Track how apartment prices are changing over time.
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