Cheap Apartments for Rent in Des Moines, IA from $300 (408 Rentals)

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Lenox Properties
Rent Specials
$595 - $1,250
Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$595 - $1,250
Total Monthly Price
Varies
Studio to 3 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

Lenox Properties

4215 Grand AveDes Moines, IA 50312
Affordability
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Rosemont Place
$682 - $1,593
Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$657 - $1,568
Required Monthly Fees
$25
Total Monthly Price
$682 - $1,593
1 to 3 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

Rosemont Place

2201-2202 E Rose AveDes Moines, IA 50320
Cost Per Sq.Ft.
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The Drake
Rent Specials
$695 - $860
Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$630 - $795
Required Monthly Fees
$65
Total Monthly Price
$695 - $860
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

The Drake

1260 34th StDes Moines, IA 50311
Corporate Housing
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  • 3D Tour

Roommate Matching: Finding the Right Fit and Avoiding Pitfalls

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Hampton House Apartments
Rent Specials
$699 - $1,599
Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$599 - $1,499
Required Monthly Fees
$100
Total Monthly Price
$699 - $1,599
Studio to 1 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

Hampton House Apartments

4200 Grand AveDes Moines, IA 50312
Furnished
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  • Utilities Included
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Park Forest
$705 - $1,026
Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$697 - $1,018
Required Monthly Fees
$8
Total Monthly Price
$705 - $1,026
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

Park Forest

2101 E Virginia AveDes Moines, IA 50320
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Des Moines's Best Affordable Neighborhoods

Learn about Des Moines and the best places to live with original content written by our Local Expert Joseph Isenberg

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property at 2303 E 9th St

$725 - $750

1 Bedroom Rentals

Available Now

2303 E 9th St

Des MoinesIA50316
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City Square Lofts
Rent Specials
$727 - $2,666
Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$694 - $2,633
Required Monthly Fees
$33
Total Monthly Price
$727 - $2,666
Studio to 3 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

City Square Lofts

240 E Walnut StDes Moines, IA 50309
Transit Friendly
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The Ridges
Rent Specials
$740 - $925
Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$675 - $860
Required Monthly Fees
$65
Total Monthly Price
$740 - $925
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

The Ridges

7201 SE 5th StDes Moines, IA 50315
Affordability
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  • Customer Reviewed
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Sutton Hill
$748 - $1,124
Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$660 - $1,036
Required Monthly Fees
$88
Total Monthly Price
$748 - $1,124
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

Sutton Hill

2100 King AveDes Moines, IA 50320
Active Lifestyle
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The Art of the Rental Viewing: What to look for during a property tour

Touring a rental? This guide helps you know exactly what to look for, from safety features to hidden flaws, so you can confidently sign your lease or keep searching.

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Legacy Meadows
Rent Specials
$760 - $925
Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$745 - $910
Required Monthly Fees
$15
Total Monthly Price
$760 - $925
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

Legacy Meadows

4530 Lower Beaver RdDes Moines, IA 50310
Outdoors
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The Des Moines Building
Rent Specials
$774 - $1,339
Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$769 - $1,334
Required Monthly Fees
$5
Total Monthly Price
$774 - $1,339
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

The Des Moines Building

405 6th AveDes Moines, IA 50309
Affordability
  • Verified
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  • Low Income
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Park Ridge Apartments
Rent Specials
$775 - $925
Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$775 - $925
Total Monthly Price
$775 - $925
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments Available Now

Park Ridge Apartments

3200 Indianola AveDes Moines, IA 50315
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Smart Renter's Guide: Calculating Affordable Rent & Housing Costs

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Des Moines, IA Local Guide

Photo of Justin Habersaat - Editing Staff
Written By:
Justin Habersaat
Editing Staff

Cheapest Neighborhoods for Apartments in Des Moines, IA

Pricing Updated: 03/24/2026

Current apartment rentals in the Des Moines, IA area range in price from $380 to $12,975 with an overall median price of $2,095. The three Des Moines neighborhoods with the lowest median rent pricing are Campus Park Wrights Grove at $461, River Bend at $461, and North of Grand at $600. Here is today’s list of the top 10 neighborhoods with the lowest median pricing for Des Moines Apartments for rent:

NeighborhoodMedian PriceMin PriceAvailable Units
Campus Park Wrights Grove$895$46134
River Bend$940$4614
North of Grand$1,039$60016
Indianola Hills$1,125$69966
Laurel Hill Vandalia Acres$1,140$68260
Frisbie Park$1,150$380162
Sheridan Gardens$1,150$75072
Fort Des Moines$1,154$643183
Hillsboro Estates$1,154$64393
Jordan Park$1,154$643196

Cheapest Available Des Moines Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in Des Moines, IA is a Studio unit found at Townhall Apartments in the Grandview College Area neighborhood priced from $461. Johnston Crossing Senior Apartments I in the Green Meadows West neighborhood has the second lowest priced unit, which is a 1 Bed apartment currently listed from $548. Here is today’s list of the most affordable Des Moines apartments for rent:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
Townhall ApartmentsUnit 224 - Income RestrictedStudio,1BA$461
Johnston Crossing Senior Apartments I1 Bedroom1BR,1BA$548
The Flats on 21stStudioStudio,1BA$550
Highland Park ApartmentsStandard 1 Bed1BR,1BA$597
Highland Park ManorStandard 1 Bed1BR,1BA$597
The View on Douglas0BR/1.0BAStudio,1BA$599
Village GreenStudioStudio,1BA$600
Plymouth Place Retirement Community 62+Studio - Retirement CommunityStudio,1BA$600
The View On HickmanNew Build Apartment Available for Immediate Mov...Studio,1BA$625
Lenox PropertiesGreenwood AStudio,1BA$635

Best Value Apartments for Rent in Des Moines, IA

As of March 24, 2026 the best value apartment in the Des Moines area is the $0.77 price per square foot Four bed Model at Prairie Trails in the in the Hayes Acres neighborhood starting from $2,300. The second greatest value Des Moines apartment is the 2 BR/ 1 BA Model at 3612 Ingersoll Ave starting at $1,200 with a $0.75 price per square foot in the Southwest Des Moines neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for Des Moines apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
Prairie TrailsFour bed4BR,3BA$0.77
3612 Ingersoll Ave2 BR/ 1 BA2BR,1BA$0.75
Normandy Terrace Apartments2 Bedroom 1.5 Bath2BR,1.5BA$0.60
Southern Meadows HomesPlan B - two story3BR,2BA$0.93
Ingersoll TowersDrake3BR,2BA$0.86
Magnolia Park2/2.02BR,2BA$0.85
Magnolia Manor Apartments and Townhomes2 Bedroom2BR,1BA$0.89
Washington ManorTwo Bedroom2BR,2BA$0.91
McKinley Apartments2BD/1.5BA2BR,2BA$0.89
Johnston Crossing Senior Apartments I1 Bedroom1BR,1BA$0.80

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Don't Settle: How to Negotiate Your Apartment Lease and Save Money

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Cash or credit? Understanding the Importance of Credit Score in Real Estate and Renting

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Des Moines Overview

It’s likely that you only really hear about Des Moines every four years when the presidential caucuses kick off in this city. But that’s only part of the great culture and history of Des Moines. It’s over 150 years old and in that time has grown to be a Midwestern hub of culture and commerce. If you’re in the insurance industry, Des Moines is the absolute best place to live as it is the home of several large insurance companies. Des Moines isn’t just for insurance people, though, it’s a city that keeps growing, and it’s even been attracting more and more young people. If you’re looking for apartments in Des Moines, this must be an exciting time in your life because Des Moines is a great (not to mention inexpensive) place to live.

Why live in Des Moines, IA?

Des Moines is a constantly underrated city. It’s not the most talked about city, but it sure has a lot going on! It’s the home of several professional minor league sports teams, including the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League. Des Moines is also a smart city. It has an impressive public school system and houses five colleges and universities. Iowa’s work force, including that of Des Moines, ranks as one of the best educated in the country due to its 80% high school graduation rate. Des Moines’ real claim to fame is its importance in the presidential election, many candidates set up campaign offices here due to its position as the site of the first caucuses.

Remember the 3 Rules of Real Estate:
Location, Location, Location!

Explore Des Moines, IA Rentals by Map

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See the most popular apartments and homes in Des Moines, IA

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Des Moines, IA Area Reviews

  • Parks
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Joseph • 4+ years in Des Moines

May 14, 2025

Many residents prefer the western suburbs or more distant communities like Indianola, Boone, Ames, or Newton. Certainly those are all viable options.I would never pick Des Moines for its schools, for example. But the city has many fine neighborhoods which are worth a look.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Des Moines Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in Des Moines?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in Des Moines is under $635.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in Des Moines?

The cheapest apartment in Des Moines is Townhall Apartments which is listed at $480, while the average apartment in Des Moines costs $2,095.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in Des Moines?

Student, low-income, and by-the-bed apartments are typically the cheapest rentals in most cities, though they require qualifying criteria to rent. There are 3,900 regular apartments in Des Moines that we think qualify as ‘cheap apartments’ that do not have special requirements to apply to rent.

How do the prices of cheap apartments compare to the average apartment in Des Moines?

Cheap apartments in Des Moines have an average cost of $324 which is $1,771 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in Des Moines.

Expert Rental Resources

The rental experts at ApartmentHomeLiving.com provide you with top advice, tools, and tips for understanding the leasing process and finding the perfect rental. Here are a few helpful rental and leasing articles from our experts to guide you on your search.

Articles, How-To's, and Tips

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A Local Expert's Guide To the Top Budget-Friendly Neighborhoods to Rent in Des Moines, Iowa

Written by: Joseph Isenberg

I'm Joe, the ApartmentHomeLiving.com Local Expert for Des Moines and Central Iowa. My parents moved to Central Iowa in 1967, and my family has been here ever since.

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Maximizing Your Refund: Essential Tax Tips for Renters

Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.

Other than tax professionals, I can’t think of anyone who looks forward to tax season. For everybody else, April is a stressful month to collect information and meet deadlines.

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18 Must-Ask Rental Tour Questions That Reveal the Truth about a Property

Written by: Lauren Harrington

Renting your next home can feel thrilling and overwhelming at the same time.

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A Renters Guide for Tips on Writing Your Notice for Not Renewing Your Apartment

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Packing up everything you own to move is so stressful for many that ending your apartment lease can feel like a small or unimportant task. Ending your lease involves more than simply turning over your keys on the last day.