Iowa rent guide
Average Rent in Iowa by City (June 2026)
Data as of Jun 9, 2026 · 204 rentals across 35 Iowa cities
Iowa is one of the more affordable rental markets in the country. A one-bedroom statewide runs about $1,000 a month, the median across the 101 one-beds in our data, and most cities cluster close to that figure. We use the median on purpose, and the per-city table below is where the real detail is.
Studio
$1,040
typical / mo
1 bed
$1,000
typical / mo
2 bed
$1,100
typical / mo
3 bed
$1,504
typical / mo
Typical rent by city, lowest first
Sorted by each city’s overall median. Iowa’s range is narrow, so the difference between cities is smaller than in most states. Find yours, then check the one-bed and two-bed columns for the size you’re after.
| # | City | Typical | 1 bed | 2 bed | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davenport | $900 | - | - | 7 |
| 2 | Cedar Rapids | $902 | $850 | $1,225 | 11 |
| 3 | Iowa City | $975 | - | - | 5 |
| 4 | Des Moines | $995 | $975 | $1,168 | 45 |
| 5 | Urbandale | $999 | - | $935 | 7 |
| 6 | Altoona | $1,006 | $990 | - | 7 |
| 7 | Sioux City | $1,095 | $985 | $1,251 | 13 |
| 8 | West Des Moines | $1,105 | $1,085 | $1,301 | 25 |
| 9 | Council Bluffs | $1,106 | $1,100 | - | 12 |
| 10 | Waukee | $1,150 | $1,150 | $1,906 | 16 |
| 11 | Ankeny | $1,181 | $1,050 | $1,322 | 14 |
| 12 | Johnston | $1,239 | - | $1,239 | 7 |
| 13 | Ames | $1,300 | - | - | 5 |
How to read these numbers
“Typical” is the median across every unit we track in that city. The per-bedroom columns are the median for that floor plan, shown only once a city has at least three listed. We include cities with five or more live listings and leave out single rooms and senior housing. Everything refreshes when our data does (last updated Jun 9, 2026).
Frequently asked questions
What is the average rent in Iowa?
Across the state the median one-bedroom is about $1,000/mo, studios run ~$1,040, two-beds ~$1,100 and three-beds ~$1,504. We use the median, not the mean, so a few luxury buildings do not skew it. Iowa is one of the more affordable states we track, with most cities clustered close together, so check the per-city table for your exact market.
How much is rent in Des Moines versus Cedar Rapids?
They are close, and both are affordable. Des Moines itself sits near the low end of the metro, while its fast-growing suburbs (Waukee, Ankeny, Johnston) run higher on newer construction. Cedar Rapids and the Quad Cities (Davenport) are among the cheapest larger markets in the state.
Are the Iowa college towns cheap to rent in?
Reasonably. Iowa City (University of Iowa) and Ames (Iowa State) have large student rental markets with plenty of options near the statewide median. Cedar Falls (Northern Iowa) is similar. They are good value if you are a student, remote, or work nearby.
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