> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://josetijam.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Average Rent in Des Moines, IA: What Renters Pay in 2026 - URL: https://josetijam.com/average-rent-in-des-moines-ia/ - Published: 2026-10-13T05:49:03.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-13T14:49:11.000Z - Description: Typical rent in Des Moines, IA falls roughly between $1,000 and $1,150 a month across recent sources. Unit size and the way each source measures rent explain most of the gap. - Author: Housing Ledger Editorial - Tags: Des Moines, Iowa rent, rental market, #gce-43b78810 You can expect the average rent in Des Moines, IA to run about $1,000 to $1,150 a month. Those figures come from recent sources, and the range is a better planning starting point than any one number. [\[1\]](https://www.zillow.com/rental-manager/market-trends/des-moines-ia/?ref=josetijam.com)[\[2\]](https://usafacts.org/answers/how-much-do-households-spend-on-rent/metro-area/des-moines-ia/?ref=josetijam.com)[\[3\]](https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/des-moines-ia?ref=josetijam.com)[\[4\]](https://www.rentcafe.com/average-rent-market-trends/us/ia/des-moines/?ref=josetijam.com) For a closer look, read [Average Rent in Ann Arbor MI: What the 2026 Figures Mean](https://josetijam.com/average-rent-in-ann-arbor-mi/). Zillow's rental manager data shows $1,088 for all bedroom counts and property types, as of about a week before the reading date [\[1\]](https://www.zillow.com/rental-manager/market-trends/des-moines-ia/?ref=josetijam.com). Zumper reports $995 for an apartment [\[3\]](https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/des-moines-ia?ref=josetijam.com), and RentCafe reports $1,119 for 2026-era data [\[4\]](https://www.rentcafe.com/average-rent-market-trends/us/ia/des-moines/?ref=josetijam.com). Each figure uses different units and dates, so the gap is expected. USAFacts reports a median of about $1,150 a month for 2020 to 2024 [\[2\]](https://usafacts.org/answers/how-much-do-households-spend-on-rent/metro-area/des-moines-ia/?ref=josetijam.com), a longer and older period than the others. This article breaks down why the figures differ, what to expect for each unit size, and whether rent is rising or falling. ## Why do the rent figures for Des Moines differ? The Des Moines figures differ mainly because each source measures a different thing over a different period. Once you line them up, most of the gaps come from method rather than from conflicting data about the market. Zillow's figure covers every bedroom count, so it blends studios, one-bedrooms, and larger units into one number. That makes it a city-wide starting point, not a price for any one type of unit. Zumper splits its figures by unit size, which makes it the most useful table for a specific budget. Its one-bedroom and two-bedroom figures are $820 and $1,050\. [\[3\]](https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/des-moines-ia?ref=josetijam.com) USAFacts reports a median, not an average, and it covers an older window. A mean and a median can differ noticeably. A few expensive units can lift an average above what most renters pay, while a median stays closer to the typical unit. Unit mix also matters: a sample with more studios pulls the average down, while more two-bedroom listings push it up. ![Several apartment buildings of differing ages and styles stand side by side along a tree-lined street in Des Moines, Iowa.](https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=Des%20Moines%20Iowa%20apartment%20complexes%20with%20different%20rental%20prices%20side%20by%20side&w=800&h=450&rs=1&c=4) ## How much rent should you expect for a studio, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom? A one-bedroom in Des Moines typically runs about $820 to $875 a month, and a two-bedroom about $1,050 to $1,094\. Budget for the higher figure in each range so that a listing at the top does not break your plan. [\[3\]](https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/des-moines-ia?ref=josetijam.com)[\[5\]](https://www.trulia.com/for%5Frent/Des%5FMoines,IA/?ref=josetijam.com)[\[6\]](https://www.rent.com/iowa/des-moines-apartments/rent-trends?ref=josetijam.com) ### One-bedroom and two-bedroom rents Zumper puts the one-bedroom around $820 a month and the two-bedroom around $1,050 a month [\[3\]](https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/des-moines-ia?ref=josetijam.com). Trulia gives a higher one-bedroom average of $875 a month [\[5\]](https://www.trulia.com/for%5Frent/Des%5FMoines,IA/?ref=josetijam.com). Rent.com lists the two-bedroom average at $1,094 [\[6\]](https://www.rent.com/iowa/des-moines-apartments/rent-trends?ref=josetijam.com). The sites measure rents differently, so their figures do not line up exactly. Using the higher number from each site gives you a safer starting point than picking the lowest one. ### Studio rent Studios cost less than one-bedrooms. Trulia reports that a one-bedroom is about $125 more than a studio [\[5\]](https://www.trulia.com/for%5Frent/Des%5FMoines,IA/?ref=josetijam.com). Subtracting that $125 from $875 puts a studio near $750 a month. If you live alone and need only a small space, test that figure against your income. ### Using the Rent.com range Rent.com gives a 2026 range of $850 to $1,094 for apartments in Des Moines [\[6\]](https://www.rent.com/iowa/des-moines-apartments/rent-trends?ref=josetijam.com). That range mixes unit sizes, so treat the top of it as your ceiling rather than a target for one apartment. ### Build your budget Set rent aside before you add utilities, parking, or a security deposit. ![A bright, empty studio apartment with a compact kitchenette and large window, showing the layout renters might choose from.](https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=empty%20studio%20apartment%20with%20kitchenette%20and%20window%20in%20Des%20Moines&w=800&h=450&rs=1&c=4) ## Is rent in Des Moines going up or down? Average rent in Des Moines rose over the latest yearly reading, but listing data points the other way in some places. Here is what each reading shows and what it cannot tell you. ### The yearly average went up RentCafe reports the average apartment rent rose 1.46% from the prior year, from $1,103 to $1,119\. [\[4\]](https://www.rentcafe.com/average-rent-market-trends/us/ia/des-moines/?ref=josetijam.com) For a renter, that is about $16 more a month on an average unit. ### Listing prices moved differently Statewide, Iowa rental listing prices are unchanged since September's median of $1,099\. [\[7\]](https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/local/2025/11/18/apartments-for-rent-des-moines-iowa-prices-october-2024/87257227007/?ref=josetijam.com) Those statewide figures cover towns beyond Des Moines, so they give you a broader comparison, not a Des Moines price. The two readings do not conflict. A yearly average can rise while some individual listings drop, because the average blends many units of different sizes and ages. A unit that dropped in price may also ask less than the average suggests, which is why the average alone rarely tells you what one apartment will cost. ### What these numbers cannot tell you These are past readings. They do not show where rent will go next year. A rise in one year does not guarantee a rise in the next, and a price cut in a few listings does not mean rents are falling across the city. If you are signing a lease now, use the asking rent on the unit you are considering as your starting point, and compare it with the average for the same number of bedrooms. That gives you a more useful answer than either the trend or a single citywide figure. ## Which rent figure should you use to plan your budget? A typical Des Moines unit rents for about $1,000 to $1,150 a month, so plan with that range rather than one average. Single figures from different sources land at different points in it. Zumper shows $995 for an apartment [\[3\]](https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/des-moines-ia?ref=josetijam.com), while USAFacts reports a median of about $1,150 a month for 2020 to 2024 [\[2\]](https://usafacts.org/answers/how-much-do-households-spend-on-rent/metro-area/des-moines-ia/?ref=josetijam.com). ### Should I budget with one average rent number? No. A single average hides how unit size and the way a source counts rentals change the result. Zillow's all-bedroom figure of $1,088 sits inside the range but says nothing about the unit you want [\[1\]](https://www.zillow.com/rental-manager/market-trends/des-moines-ia/?ref=josetijam.com). For more detail, see [Average Rent in Eugene OR: Prices by Unit Size and Source](https://josetijam.com/average-rent-in-eugene-or/). ### Which figure should I use for my unit size? Use the figure for the bedroom count you plan to rent. The gap is large: Zumper shows $820 for a one-bedroom and $1,050 for a two-bedroom [\[3\]](https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/des-moines-ia?ref=josetijam.com). That is a difference of $230 a month, so a two-bedroom budget built on one-bedroom numbers would fall short. For a two-bedroom, Rent.com gives $1,094 as the average [\[6\]](https://www.rent.com/iowa/des-moines-apartments/rent-trends?ref=josetijam.com). If you plan for a two-bedroom, start from the higher end of the range. ### What should I check before comparing two sources? Start with the date. Next, look at what is counted. Zillow's figure covers all bedroom counts and property types [\[1\]](https://www.zillow.com/rental-manager/market-trends/des-moines-ia/?ref=josetijam.com), and Zumper's covers apartments [\[3\]](https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/des-moines-ia?ref=josetijam.com). Compare figures only when both measure the same kind of rental and the same unit size. ## What does this mean for your Des Moines rent budget? The typical average sits in that band [\[1\]](https://www.zillow.com/rental-manager/market-trends/des-moines-ia/?ref=josetijam.com)[\[2\]](https://usafacts.org/answers/how-much-do-households-spend-on-rent/metro-area/des-moines-ia/?ref=josetijam.com)[\[3\]](https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/des-moines-ia?ref=josetijam.com). The gap between figures comes mostly from unit size and how each source measures rent. A figure that mixes studios with three-bedroom homes will read differently from one built on two-bedroom apartments alone [\[3\]](https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/des-moines-ia?ref=josetijam.com). So start with the bedroom-count averages. Zumper lists about $820 for a one-bedroom and about $1,050 for a two-bedroom [\[3\]](https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/des-moines-ia?ref=josetijam.com). Pick the line that matches the unit you want, then add a cushion so you are not caught short when you see listings above the average. If you are comparing two numbers, check that both measure the same unit size before you decide which one is right for you. ## Sources 1. [Average Rental Price in Des Moines, IA](https://www.zillow.com/rental-manager/market-trends/des-moines-ia/?ref=josetijam.com) 2. [How much do households in Des Moines, IA area spend ...](https://usafacts.org/answers/how-much-do-households-spend-on-rent/metro-area/des-moines-ia/?ref=josetijam.com) 3. [Average Rent in Des Moines, IA and Rent Price Trends](https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/des-moines-ia?ref=josetijam.com) 4. [Average Rent in Des Moines, IA](https://www.rentcafe.com/average-rent-market-trends/us/ia/des-moines/?ref=josetijam.com) 5. [Apartments For Rent in Des Moines, IA](https://www.trulia.com/for%5Frent/Des%5FMoines,IA/?ref=josetijam.com) 6. [Rental market trends in Des Moines, IA](https://www.rent.com/iowa/des-moines-apartments/rent-trends?ref=josetijam.com) 7. [Des Moines apartments ​for rent saw price decreases ...](https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/local/2025/11/18/apartments-for-rent-des-moines-iowa-prices-october-2024/87257227007/?ref=josetijam.com)