Cheap Apartments for Rent in the Merle Hay Neighborhood of Des Moines, IA from $500 (57 Rentals)

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Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in the Merle Hay area of Des Moines.

Your Guide to Co-Signers: The Risks, Rewards, and Everything in Between

Thinking about getting a co-signer for your rental application? We break down what a co-signer is, the potential benefits, and the serious risks for both parties. Find out if it's the right choice for you.

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Roommate Matching: Finding the Right Fit and Avoiding Pitfalls

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Uplift Manor
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments

Uplift Manor

2916 30th StDes Moines, IA 50310
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3809 University Ave
Studio Apartments

3809 University Ave

3809 University AveDes Moines, IA 50311
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Drake Collection
1 to 3 Bedroom Apartments

Drake Collection

2931 Cottage Grove AveDes Moines, IA 50311
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The Eddy
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

The Eddy

1120 Polk BlvdDes Moines, IA 50311
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University West
2 Bedroom Apartments

University West

4010 UniversityDes Moines, IA 50311
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Hickman House
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments

Hickman House

2221 63rd StDes Moines, IA 50322
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Roosevelt Manor
2 Bedroom Apartments

Roosevelt Manor

4223 Chamberlain DrDes Moines, IA 50312
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Cash or credit? Understanding the Importance of Credit Score in Real Estate and Renting

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4314 University Ave
1 Bedroom Apartments

4314 University Ave

4314 University AveDes Moines, IA 50311
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3519 University Ave
1 to 2 Bedroom Apartments

3519 University Ave

3519 University AveDes Moines, IA 50311
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University Park Place
Studio to 2 Bedroom Apartments

University Park Place

3725-3727 University AveDes Moines, IA 50311
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Twin Oaks Residences
2 Bedroom Apartments

Twin Oaks Residences

6315-6319 Hickman RdDes Moines, IA 50322
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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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The Art of the Rental Viewing: What to look for during a property tour

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Merle Hay, Des Moines, IA Local Guide

Cheapest Available Merle Hay Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in the Merle Hay area of Des Moines, IA is a Studio unit found at Clover Creek priced from $611. Urban Heights has the second lowest priced unit, which is a Studio apartment currently listed from $625. Here are the most affordable Merle Hay apartments for rent in Des Moines, IA:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
Clover Creek0/1 - ClassicStudio,1BA$611
Urban Heights0BR/1.0BAStudio,1BA$625
The View On Hickman0BR/1.0BAStudio,1BA$625
The View on Douglas0BR/1.0BAStudio,1BA$650
Legacy MeadowsS1 ClassicStudio,1BA$665
Beaverdale Housing LLCStudioStudio,1BA$710
The Village at WestchesterHarrison II2BR,1BA$727
Westpointe ApartmentsWashingtonStudio,1BA$736
1/2 OFF 1ST MONTHS RENT!!! APPLY TODAY CHAD ESTATES1 bedroom1BR,1BA$765

Best Value Apartments for Rent in Merle Hay, IA

As of November 25, 2025 the best value apartment in the Merle Hay area is the $1.00 price per square foot 2107 52nd St Model at 2107 52nd St, Unit 2017 in the in the Merle Hay neighborhood starting from $1,000. The second greatest value Merle Hay apartment is the 3120 Cottage Grove Ave Model at 3120 Cottage Grove Ave, Unit Apt 2 starting at $775 with a $0.81 price per square foot in the Merle Hay neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for Merle Hay apartments based on price per square foot:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPrice Per Sq.Ft.
2107 52nd St, Unit 20172107 52nd St2BR,1.5BA$1.00
3120 Cottage Grove Ave, Unit Apt 23120 Cottage Grove Ave1BR,1BA$0.81
Urban Green Apartments - Urbandale2 BD Oak2BR,1BA$1.01
Bexley Urbandalebxl-B1r2BR,1BA$1.18
Recently updated apartments near to shopping, dining, and public transportationBirch elevated 2 Bed2BR,1BA$1.11
Crest Manor2 Bedroom2BR,1BA$1.05
The Village at WestchesterHarrison II2BR,1BA$0.92
Crossroad Apartments1BR/1.0BA1BR,1BA$1.11
The Drake ApartmentsC22BR,1BA$1.19
1/2 OFF 1ST MONTHS RENT!!! APPLY TODAY CHAD ESTATES1 bedroom1BR,1BA$1.18

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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Quick Rent Budget Calculator

How much rent can you afford?

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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Pet Friendly Lifestyle
Merle Hay, Des Moines, IA

Ranked #43

Among cities in Iowa for Apartment listings with Pet Friendly Amenities.

Pet Friendliness Lifestyle Score

4.0
Pet Friendly

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Best Local Schools in
Merle Hay, Des Moines, IA

School data provided by Great Schools

Lifestyle Ratings

ApartmentHomeLiving brings you comprehensive Lifestyle Ratings of rentals in cities and towns across the United States, including Des Moines. LifeStyle Ratings are a useful tool for comparing and sorting apartments and neighborhoods when choosing your rental home. This takes in many factors including searching for the best amenities, and convenient access to the outdoors, kid and pet-friendly communities, availability of transit options, and how walkable or bikeable each community and area is. These search options are in the site filters at the top of this page.

Getting Around the Merle Hay Neighborhood in Des Moines, IA

Walk Score®

76 / 100

Very Walkable

Most errands can be accomplished on foot

Bike Score®

51 / 100

Bikeable

Some 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 Merle Hay Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in Merle Hay?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in Merle Hay is under $765.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in Merle Hay?

The cheapest apartment in Merle Hay is Clover Creek which is listed at $685, while the average apartment in Merle Hay costs $1,447.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in Merle Hay?

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 43 regular apartments in Merle Hay 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 Merle Hay?

Cheap apartments in Merle Hay have an average cost of $130 which is $1,317 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in Merle Hay.

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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Apartment Common Area Rules: What Renters Need to Know

Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.

Back in the day when I rented one of my first apartments, the property didn’t even have laundry in the building. Now, rental properties are often competing against each other to provide the best amenities.

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How to Negotiate Your Apartment Lease and Save Money

Written by: Christine Leonard, Esq.

Everything is a negotiation in real estate! 

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The Rental Move-In Inspection Checklist: A Guide for Renters

Written by: Trey Huguley

The move-in inspection checklist is a crucial tool for both tenants and landlords. This checklist, provided by the team at ApartmentHomeLiving.com, helps document the condition of an apartment at the time of move-in.