Iowa rent guide
How to Find the Cheapest Place to Rent in Iowa (June 2026)
Data as of Jun 9, 2026 · 204 rentals across 35 Iowa cities
Iowa is one of the cheapest states to rent in, so here it is less about leaving an expensive metro and more about finding the best value within an already-affordable one. The statewide typical rent is about $1,050/mo. Below are the markets where your budget goes furthest right now, straight from live listings, plus five concrete ways to pay less.
Iowa’s value markets right now
The cheapest cities by typical rent, cheapest first. Click any city to browse and sort by price.
| # | 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 |
Five ways to pay less for rent in Iowa
- 1
Start with the Quad Cities and Cedar Rapids
Davenport and Cedar Rapids are among the cheapest larger markets in the state. If your job or school allows it, they stretch a budget further than the Des Moines metro.
- 2
Use the college towns
Iowa City (University of Iowa), Ames (Iowa State) and Cedar Falls (Northern Iowa) have large student rental markets with plenty of options near the statewide median.
- 3
In Des Moines, skip the new suburbs
Waukee, Ankeny and Johnston carry the newest construction and the highest rents in the metro. Des Moines proper and older suburbs like Urbandale cost less for the same floor plan.
- 4
Sort by the "from" price, not the median
The cheapest unit in a building is often well below the city median. Sort low-to-high and check the specific building before you judge a town.
- 5
Time it and watch concessions
Winter is the soft season for Iowa rentals, and many buildings post a free-month or reduced-deposit concession. Save listings and check back so you catch them.
Rankings rebuild from live listings (cities with at least five, no single rooms or senior housing), so they move with the market. Last updated Jun 9, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest place to rent in Iowa?
Right now the lowest typical rents are in Davenport (~$900/mo), Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. The cheapest places are the Quad Cities (Davenport), Cedar Rapids and the college towns, while the newer Des Moines suburbs run highest. The whole state is cheap by national standards.
Should I rent in Des Moines or a suburb for the lowest rent?
Des Moines proper is generally cheaper than its fast-growing suburbs. Waukee, Ankeny and Johnston carry newer construction and higher rents, while Des Moines itself and older suburbs like Urbandale sit lower. For the lowest rent with metro access, the city core is the move.
Why is Iowa rent so affordable?
A low cost of living and ample housing supply keep Iowa among the more affordable states in the country. For renters that means a typical apartment well under the national average, with real options around or below $1,000 in most markets.
How do I actually find the cheapest unit, not just the cheapest city?
Pick a couple of value markets from the list below, open the city page, filter to your bedroom count, and sort by price. The single cheapest unit in a town is often well below its median, so the specific building matters as much as the city. Saving listings and watching them for a week also catches concession deals as they post.
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