Cheap Apartments for Rent in the Greater South Side Neighborhood of Des Moines, IA from $500 (126 Rentals)

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Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in the Greater South Side area of Des Moines.

Roommate Matching: Finding the Right Fit and Avoiding Pitfalls

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Greater South Side, Des Moines, IA Local Guide

Cheapest Available Greater South Side Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in the Greater South Side area of Des Moines, IA is a 1 Bed unit found at Southern Knolls (Watrous) priced from $600. Ingersoll Park Studios has the second lowest priced unit, which is a Studio apartment currently listed from $625. Here are the most affordable Greater South Side apartments for rent in Des Moines, IA:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
Southern Knolls (Watrous)A11BR,1BA$600
Ingersoll Park Studios0BR/1.0BAStudio,1BA$625
Ingersoll Park Studio Apartments 3607StudioStudio,1BA$625
The Pointe on Fleur1x11BR,1BA$685
Pioneer EstatesB11BR,1BA$700
Windsor Terrace ApartmentsStudioStudio,1BA$725
Grand Colony ApartmentsStudioStudio,1BA$725
Pleasant CourtStudioStudio,1BA$725
East Village SquareStudio 390-392Studio,1BA$725
Woodland Avenue Brickstone1x1 6301BR,1BA$730

Best Value Apartments for Rent in Greater South Side, IA

As of June 16, 2025 the best value apartment in the Greater South Side area is the $0.81 price per square foot 2 Bedroom - Affordable Model at Vine Street Lofts in the in the Southwest Des Moines neighborhood starting from $957. The second greatest value Greater South Side apartment is the CA-C4 Income Restricted Model at Court Ave Lofts starting at $1,080 with a $1.09 price per square foot in the Southwest Des Moines neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for Greater South Side apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
Vine Street Lofts2 Bedroom - Affordable2BR,2BA$0.81
Court Ave LoftsCA-C4 Income Restricted2BR,2BA$1.09
Magnolia Manor Apartments and Townhomes2 Bedroom2BR,1BA$0.89
Hamilton ApartmentsOne Bedroom1BR,1BA$0.84
McKinley Apartments2BD/2BA2BR,2BA$0.93
Goldbriar Chateau2 Bedroom 1 Bathroom2BR,1BA$0.94
1818 Pleasant St, Unit 18181818 Pleasant St2BR,1BA$1.03
The Pointe on Fleur1x11BR,1BA$1.01
Woodland Avenue Brickstone1x1 6301BR,1BA$1.08
Southern Knolls (Watrous)A11BR,1BA$0.92

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Pet Friendly Lifestyle
Greater South Side, Des Moines, IA

Ranked #7

Among neighborhoods in Des Moines, IA for Apartment listings with Pet Friendly Amenities

Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score

4.0
Pet Friendly

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Best Local Schools in
Greater South Side, Des Moines, IA

School data provided by Great Schools

Lifestyle Ratings

ApartmentHomeLiving brings you comprehensive Lifestyle Ratings of rentals and neighborhoods across the USA, including Greater South Side, Des Moines, and the greater Des Moines area. Our Lifestyle Ratings help you zero-in on the perfect place to call home. This takes in many factors including searching for the best amenities, and the best outdoor access, transit availability, pet-friendly communities, apartment communities for the kids, walking, and biking. These search options are in the site filters at the top of this page.

Getting Around the Greater South Side Neighborhood in Des Moines, IA

Walk Score®

41 / 100

Car-Dependent

Most errands require a car

Bike Score®

37 / 100

Somewhat Bikeable

Minimal bike infrastructure

Transit Score®

31 / 100

Some Transit

A few nearby public transportation options

What Are Walk Score®, Transit Score®, and Bike Score® Ratings?

  • Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address.
  • Transit Score® measures access to public transit.
  • Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Greater South Side Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in Greater South Side?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in Greater South Side is under $730.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in Greater South Side?

The cheapest apartment in Greater South Side is Southern Knolls (Watrous) which is listed at $600, while the average apartment in Greater South Side costs $2,199.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in Greater South Side?

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 49 regular apartments in Greater South Side 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 Greater South Side?

Cheap apartments in Greater South Side have an average cost of $195 which is $2,004 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in Greater South Side.

Expert Rental Resources

Helpful Apartment Articles, How-To's and Tips

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.

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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Roommate Matching: Finding the Right Fit and Avoiding Pitfalls

Written by: Cheryl Bowman

A fantastic way to save money and enjoy a built-in community is to share an apartment. However, a bad roommate situation can turn your dream rental into a nightmare.

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The Art of the Rental Viewing: What to look for during a property tour

Written by: Marie Brown

You’ve scrolled through countless listings, walked through a blur of rentals, and finally found what feels like the one. The pictures? Fantastic. The neighborhood seems just right.

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Know Your Budget: Calculating What You Can Realistically Afford When Renting

Written by: Lauren Harrington

Renting an apartment or house isn’t just about looking through online ads, choosing a few apartments or homes you want to tour, filling out an application, and putting down a deposit. Those things are all necessary and important.