True Cost of Renting in Des Moines

Des Moines is quietly one of the best mid-sized cities in America for renters. The insurance and financial services industry (Principal Financial, Meredith, Nationwide, EMC Insurance) provides high-wage employment; MidAmerican Energy rates are among the lowest in the Midwest; and the East Village has genuine urban character that rivals neighborhoods in much larger metros — all at prices that make the Midwest's value proposition concrete.

Neighborhoods & Average Rents

East Village

Studio:
$850/mo
1 Bed:
$1,100/mo
2 Bed:
$1,500/mo

Des Moines' hippest neighborhood adjacent to the Iowa State Capitol; boutique restaurants, coffee shops, and locally-owned retail. MidAmerican Energy electric (among the lowest rates in the Midwest). DART bus access. New construction apartments alongside renovated historic buildings.

Downtown / Court Avenue

Studio:
$900/mo
1 Bed:
$1,150/mo
2 Bed:
$1,600/mo

Financial district with growing residential population; Principal Financial HQ and major insurance employers walkable. Wells Fargo Arena and Iowa Events Center nearby. Building parking $50–75/mo. DART bus hub. Strong for financial services professionals.

West Des Moines / Waukee

1 Bed:
$1,100/mo
2 Bed:
$1,600/mo

Suburban growth corridor; Jordan Creek Town Center and major corporate campuses (Hy-Vee HQ, Nationwide Insurance regional). Iowa's fastest-growing suburban corridor. New luxury apartment complexes with resort amenities. Car-dependent.

Utility Providers

Electric
MidAmerican Energy
Water
Des Moines Water Works
Internet
Mediacom, Metronet, CenturyLink/Quantum Fiber

Commute & Transportation

Des Moines is at the intersection of I-80 (east-west US main street) and I-35 (north-south to Kansas City and Minneapolis). Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is 5 miles southwest. DART (Des Moines Area Regional Transit) provides bus service but frequency is limited outside peak hours. The city is fundamentally car-dependent. I-235 is the urban highway through Downtown. Major employers: Principal Financial Group (HQ, 6,000+), Meredith Corp (acquired by Dotdash), EMC Insurance (HQ), Iowa state government (4,000+), UnityPoint Health-Iowa Methodist, and Hy-Vee (grocery HQ in West Des Moines).

Rental Market Overview

Des Moines is the rare city where a knowledge-economy salary goes dramatically further. MidAmerican Energy (owned by Berkshire Hathaway Energy) has among the lowest electric rates in the Midwest ($0.09–0.11/kWh) due to significant wind energy investment. That means a 1BR electric bill of $60–80/month versus $120–150 in comparable Midwest cities. The insurance corridor provides stable, high-wage employment. Iowa has no state income tax on Social Security and low overall rates. A 1BR in East Village at $1,100 with Principal Financial Group 8 blocks away is a genuine quality-of-life upgrade for finance professionals priced out of Chicago or New York.

Data last updated: 2026-04

Compare Apartments in Des Moines

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Renting in Des Moines: Common Questions

What is the average rent in Des Moines?
One-bedroom apartments in Des Moines range from $1,100/month in East Village to $1,150/month in Downtown / Court Avenue. Two-bedroom units range from $1,500 to $1,600/month. These are base rents — add fees, utilities, and amenity costs to get the true all-in monthly cost.
What utilities do I need to set up in Des Moines?
In Des Moines, electricity is provided by MidAmerican Energy, water by Des Moines Water Works, and common internet providers include Mediacom, Metronet, CenturyLink/Quantum Fiber. Ask the leasing office for the specific unit's average monthly bill rather than a city-wide figure — utility costs vary more by building age and insulation than by location within Des Moines.
What neighborhoods are affordable in Des Moines?
East Village is the most affordable of the 3 Des Moines neighborhoods covered here, at $1,100/month for a one-bedroom — $50 less than Downtown / Court Avenue, roughly a 4% gap. That swing is often bigger than any fee or amenity difference between two buildings in the same neighborhood, which is why comparing across neighborhoods matters as much as comparing within one.
Is Des Moines expensive to rent in?
Across the 3 neighborhoods covered here, the average one-bedroom in Des Moines runs about $1,117/month before fees, utilities, and amenities are added — and those add-ons are exactly what a bare average hides. Des Moines is the rare city where a knowledge-economy salary goes dramatically further. Run the specific units you are considering through RentCompare to see the true all-in monthly cost rather than relying on an area average.

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