Cheap Apartments for Rent in Des Moines, IA from $480 (389 Rentals)

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Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in Des Moines.

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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Rent According to Income: A Look at Income-Restricted Rentals

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Renters Insurance 101: What It Is, What It Covers, and Why You Need It

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How I Find the Perfect Rental for My Clients: A Real Estate Pro's Guide

Finding the right apartment starts with three things: location, cost, and amenities. Get the insider perspective from a real estate professional on how to nail all three.

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What Does “Rent Burdened” Mean? How Much Rent Is Too Much

Learn the official definition (spending 30% or more of your gross income on housing) and how to calculate your exact rent-to-income ratio. This guide offers expert tips on factoring in total housing costs (including utilities and fees) and budgeting accurately to avoid unnecessary financial strain.

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Des Moines, IA Local Guide

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Written By:
Justin Habersaat
Editing Staff

Cheapest Neighborhoods for Apartments in Des Moines, IA

Pricing Updated: 09/21/2026

Current apartment rentals in the Des Moines, IA area range in price from $480 to $5,581 with an overall median price of $1,156. The three Des Moines neighborhoods with the lowest median rent pricing are Campus Park Wrights Grove at $710, Highland Park at $745, and River Bend at $780. 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$710$48018
Highland Park$745$48018
River Bend$780$4803
Crown Point$800$65054
Easton Park$800$65054
Trail View$812$69552
North of Grand$821$64715
Grand Avenue$837$59512
Oak Park$840$48062
Chautauqua Park$850$48010

Cheapest Available Des Moines Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in Des Moines, IA is a 1 Bed unit found at 732 19th St in the Downtown Des Moines neighborhood priced from $550. Highland Park Manor in the Grandview College Area neighborhood has the second lowest priced unit, which is a 1 Bed apartment currently listed from $597. Here is today’s list of the most affordable Des Moines apartments for rent:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
732 19th St1 Beds, 1 Baths1BR, 1BA$550
Highland Park ManorStandard 1 Bed1BR, 1BA$597
Highland Park ApartmentsStandard 1 Bed1BR, 1BA$597
Drake West Village4 Bed - 2 Bath4BR, 2BA$599
3309 University Ave0BR/1.0BAStudio, 1BA$600
Urban Heights0BR/1.0BAStudio, 1BA$600
The Gables0BR/1.0BAStudio, 1BA$600
Riverview Oaks ApartmentsStudioStudio, 1BA$625
The Concord BuildingStudioStudio, 1BA$630
The AcaciaStudio - ClassicStudio, 1BA$647

Best Value Apartments for Rent in Des Moines, IA

As of September 22, 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 Georgetown neighborhood starting from $2,300. The second greatest value Des Moines apartment is the 2 Bedroom 1.5 Bath Model at Normandy Terrace Apartments in the Golf & Country Club neighborhood starting at $900 with a $0.60 price per square foot. 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
Normandy Terrace Apartments2 Bedroom 1.5 Bath2BR, 1.5BA$0.60
Colonial VillageChesapeake3BR, 2BA$0.80
Prairie Pointe Student Living3 Bdrm Townhome3BR, 3BA$0.50
2601/2603 E Walnut Street2BR/1.0BA2BR, 1BA$0.88
Magnolia Park2 Bed /2 Bath2BR, 2BA$0.85
McKinley Apartments3BD/2BA3BR, 2BA$0.86
Hamilton ApartmentsOne Bedroom1BR, 1BA$0.84
Goldbriar Chateau2 Bedroom 1 Bathroom2BR, 1BA$0.88
The Pointe on Fleur Apartments2 Bedroom Apartment-One Month Free rent Call fo...2BR, 1BA$0.85

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

Discover the insider tips from an attorney and real estate agent on how to negotiate your next apartment lease. Find out what's on the table and what's not, so you can save money and get the best terms possible.

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Navigating the Rental Market: Tips for First-Time Renters

Entering the rental market? Learn these simple tips and strategies to avoid common pitfalls and make confident choices. Rent with peace of mind.

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Real Estate and Rental Term Glossary | ApartmentHomeLiving.com Renter University

From the letter A all the way to the letter Z, the Real Estate and Rental Term Glossary from the content team at ApartmentHomeLiving.com provides our visitors and shoppers with a little clarity and helpful guidance in navigating the real estate world through definitions and explainers for the top subjects and terms that someone may come across during the leasing, buying, or selling process.

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The common "Rule of Thumb" is that rent should be no more than 30% of your income. How much is that? Enter your monthly income and click "Calculate My Budget" to find out.

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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!

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Des Moines, IA Area Reviews

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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 $647.

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

The cheapest apartment in Des Moines is 732 19th St which is listed at $550, while the average apartment in Des Moines costs $1,156.

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 3,165 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 $377 which is $779 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

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

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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Rent According to Income: A Look at Income-Restricted Rentals

Written by: Robin Stewart

The idea of affordable housing can be subjective. Every individual is in a different place financially and vocationally. What one may easily afford could be a struggle for someone else.

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How Commercial-to-Residential Property Conversions Help the Housing Crisis

Written by: Robin Stewart

Many housing markets throughout America share a common complaint: a lack of affordable rental properties.

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Exploring Rental Options: Apartments, Townhomes, and Lofts - Oh My!

Written by: Robin Stewart

Where do you see yourself? When you think of home, sweet home, are you in a 3/2 apartment? Dreaming of a tall townhome? Maybe an industrial loft heavy on cool vibes is on your visioning board.