Last updated
Average Rent in Iowa City, IA & Rent Trends
Rent prices and market trends across 6 apartment communities in Iowa City, IA. Updated daily.
Market Average
$1,510/mo
▲ +7.7% from last month
Lowest Available
$685/mo
cheapest unit on market
Communities
6
tracked daily
Units Listed
85
available now
Rent by Neighborhood in Iowa City, IA
Compare average rent across Iowa City, IA neighborhoods. Click any area to see detailed trends.
Is Rent Going Up or Down in Iowa City, IA?
As of July 2026, the average rent in Iowa City, IA is $1,510 per month across 6 apartment communities and 85 available units. Rents have increased $100 (7.7%) over the past month.
The most affordable option is K R Rental starting at $685/mo. By unit type, a studio averages $1,506/mo, a 1-bedroom averages $1,458/mo, a 2-bedroom averages $1,370/mo, a 3-bedroom averages $1,990/mo, a 4-bedroom averages $2,695/mo.
Prices range from $685 to $4,749 per month. The most common price point is the $1,000 range, where 16 units are currently listed.
Iowa City, IA Rent Price History
View as table
| Month | Avg Rent | Change | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | $1,392 | - | 5 |
The trend line and monthly averages track each building's average listed price, recorded daily with outliers trimmed. The current month is a month-to-date figure, so it can sit above or below today's live market average shown at the top of this page.
Average Rent by Bedroom
Rent Price Distribution
Rent by Bedroom Type in Iowa City, IA
Rent Prices by Apartment in Iowa City, IA
| Property | Starting at | Average | Units | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K R Rental | $685/mo | $735/mo | 4 | 4.1 |
| Houser Enterprises, Inc. | $688/mo | $2,719/mo | 2 | 3.9 |
| Westwinds Real Estate | $895/mo | $1,516/mo | 73 | 3.4 |
| Kaldenberg Apartments LLC | $1,138/mo | $1,138/mo | 1 | 4.4 |
| The Nest Iowa City | $1,205/mo | $1,544/mo | 4 | 4.8 |
| Watts Group | $2,021/mo | $2,021/mo | 1 | 3.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions About Rent in Iowa City, IA
What is the average rent in Iowa City, IA?
Is rent going up or down in Iowa City, IA?
What is the cheapest apartment in Iowa City, IA?
How much is a 1-bedroom apartment in Iowa City, IA?
How many apartments are available in Iowa City, IA?
What salary do I need to live comfortably in Iowa City, 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
$60,000/year
Based on the 30 percent rule, using our tracked average rent of $1,510/mo.
Comfortable income
$72,000/year
Based on the 25 percent rule, leaving more room for savings, transport, and groceries.
To afford the cheapest tracked apartment ($685/mo), you need to earn at least $27,000/year.
Median household income in Iowa City, IA is $57,533 , about 21% below the comfortable-living threshold.
Cost of living in Iowa City, IA
Overall prices in Iowa City, IA runs below the national average by about 8% (BEA Regional Price Parity index 91.9, 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 Iowa City, IA's regional price parities.
| Category | Monthly estimate |
|---|---|
| Rent (market average) | $1,510 |
| Utilities | $351 |
| Groceries | $522 |
| Transportation | $836 |
| Healthcare | $408 |
| Other goods and services | $652 |
| Estimated total | $4,279/mo |
Population
75,264
Median household income
$57,533
Census median rent
$1,094/mo
Rent as % of income
37.6%
Median age
26.3
Mean commute
18 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.
Google Search Trends for Iowa City, IA Apartments
Search interest for apartments in this area over the past 12 months.
Search Interest Over Time
Explore Iowa City, IA Apartments
Browse all 6 communities with daily-updated pricing and availability.