Iowa rent guide
The Cheapest Cities to Rent in Iowa (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, and the range within it is narrow. The Des Moines metro anchors the state, with the best value in the Quad Cities (Davenport), Cedar Rapids and the college towns (Iowa City for the University of Iowa, Ames for Iowa State), while the fast-growing Des Moines suburbs (Waukee, Ankeny, Johnston) sit at the top. We track every apartment we can find and rank the cities below by their typical rent, straight from live listings.
The lowest typical rent right now is in Davenport (about $900/mo), while Ames sits at the top ($1,300/mo), a small gap by national standards. The bedroom count you need takes it from there.
Iowa cities by typical rent, cheapest first
| # | City | Typical | From | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Davenport | $900 | $805 | 7 |
| 2 | Cedar Rapids | $902 | $825 | 11 |
| 3 | Iowa City | $975 | $850 | 5 |
| 4 | Des Moines | $995 | $807 | 45 |
| 5 | Urbandale | $999 | $845 | 7 |
| 6 | Altoona | $1,006 | $845 | 7 |
| 7 | Sioux City | $1,095 | $935 | 13 |
| 8 | West Des Moines | $1,105 | $840 | 25 |
| 9 | Council Bluffs | $1,106 | $875 | 12 |
| 10 | Waukee | $1,150 | $825 | 16 |
| 11 | Ankeny | $1,181 | $870 | 14 |
| 12 | Johnston | $1,239 | $1,006 | 7 |
| 13 | Ames | $1,300 | $825 | 5 |
How we rank them
“Typical” is the median rent across everything we track in a city, so half the listings are cheaper and half pricier. “From” is the single cheapest unit listed right now. We include cities with at least five live listings and exclude single rooms and senior housing. Small-city medians can swing on a few listings, so the bigger markets are the most stable. Refreshes when our data does (last updated Jun 9, 2026).
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest city to rent in Iowa?
By typical (median) rent it's Davenport, around $900/mo, then Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. The best value is in the Quad Cities (Davenport), Cedar Rapids and the college towns (Iowa City, Ames), while the newer Des Moines exurbs cost the most. The ranking rebuilds from live listings, so it moves with the market.
Where is rent most expensive in Iowa?
Ames tops the list at about $1,300/mo, though the spread across the state is small. The priciest spots are the fast-growing Des Moines suburbs (Waukee, Ankeny, Johnston) with newer construction. Even the top of the list is affordable by national standards.
Is Iowa a cheap state to rent in?
Yes, one of the more affordable states we track, with a typical rent below the national average. The Des Moines metro has a large, low-cost rental market, and the college towns of Iowa City (University of Iowa) and Ames (Iowa State) plus the Quad Cities and Cedar Rapids are cheaper still.
How do I find the cheapest rent in Iowa?
Start in the value markets at the top of the table below, filter to the bedroom count you actually need, and sort by price. The single cheapest unit in a city (the "from" price) is often well below the median, so the specific building matters as much as the city.
More rent guides
Iowa · Rankings
How to Find the Cheapest Place to Rent in Iowa
Iowa region by region, cheapest first, plus the Quad Cities, Cedar Rapids and college towns around the Des Moines metro, and five concrete ways to pay less.
Iowa · Rent data
Average Rent in Iowa by City
What renters actually pay in Iowa, one of the more affordable states: median rent in every city we track, by bedroom, from live listings. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and beyond.
California · Rankings
The Cheapest Cities to Rent in California
Every California city ranked by entry-level and median rent, straight from live listings, no estimates.
California · Rankings
The Cheapest 1-Bedroom Apartments in California
Where one-beds cost the least right now: cities ranked by entry price and median 1-bed rent, plus how to land one.
Want the cheapest unit in your city the moment it lists?
Save a search on Budget Leases and we’ll email you when a cheaper match shows up. It’s free, with one-click unsubscribe whenever you’re done looking.
Browse the cheapest rentals →Budget Leases is an independent rental tracker and isn’t affiliated with any listing provider. Rents and availability change constantly, so always confirm the current price on the original listing before you make a decision.