Cheap Apartments for Rent in Polk County, IA from $480 (432 Rentals)

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Search the lowest-cost Apartments available for rent right now in Polk County.

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309 8th St, Unit 3
$675
Total Monthly Price

Total Monthly Price

Base Rent
$675
Total Monthly Price
$675
Studio Apartment Available Sep 1

309 8th St, Unit 3

309 8th StWest Des Moines, IA 50265
Affordability
  • Smoke Free
property at 1260 34th St

$695 - $860

1 To 2 Bedroom Rentals

Available Sep 2

1260 34th St

Des MoinesIA50311

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Cheapest Available Polk County Apartments for Rent

 

The cheapest available apartment rental in Polk County, IA is a 1 Bed unit found at Johnston Crossing Senior Apartments I in the Green Meadows West neighborhood priced from $548. 732 19th St in the Downtown Des Moines neighborhood has the second lowest priced unit, which is a 1 Bed apartment currently listed from $550. Here is today’s list of the most affordable Polk County apartments for rent:

Apartment ListingModel NameBed/BathPriced From
Johnston Crossing Senior Apartments I1 Bedroom1BR,1BA$548
732 19th St1 Beds, 1 Baths1BR,1BA$550
Oakwood PlaceAsh 30%1BR,1BA$562
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
319 Franklin Ave1BR/1.0BA1BR,1BA$623
The Concord BuildingStudioStudio,1BA$630
The Village at WestchesterRye II1BR,1BA$643

Best Value Apartments for Rent in Polk County, IA

As of August 31, 2026 the best value apartment in the Polk County 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 Polk County apartment is the 2 Bedroom 1.5 Bath Model at Normandy Terrace Apartments starting at $900 with a $0.60 price per square foot in the Golf & Country Club neighborhood. Here is today’s list of the best values for Polk County 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$0.81
Southern Meadows HomesPlan B - two story3BR,2BA$0.93
Prairie Pointe Student Living3 Bdrm Townhome3BR,3BA$0.50
1083 NW Greenwood St, Unit 10831083 NW Greenwood St2BR,1BA$0.92
Applewood PropertiesTwo Bedroom2BR,1BA$0.87
McKinley Apartments3BD/2BA3BR,2BA$0.86
The Meadows2 Bedroom2BR,1BA$0.91
Johnston Crossing Senior Apartments I1 Bedroom1BR,1BA$0.80

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheap Polk County Apartments

What is a cheap apartment in Polk County?

A cheap apartment is any apartment up to the 30% percentile of cost for the area, which in Polk County is under $643.

What is the price of a cheap apartment in Polk County?

The cheapest apartment in Polk County is Johnston Crossing Senior Apartments I which is listed at $548, while the average apartment in Polk County costs $1,175.

What types of apartments are the cheapest in Polk County?

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 183 regular apartments in Polk County 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 Polk County?

Cheap apartments in Polk County have an average cost of $331 which is $844 cheaper than the average rent for all rentals in Polk County.

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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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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Practical Tips for Renters: How to Identify a Great Rental and Avoid Red Flags

Written by: Robin Stewart

Renters want to find a great apartment, the right place for them, one that checks all the boxes of location, rental cost, amenities, safety, and more.

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First Apartment Regrets: Real Renters Share What They'd Do Differently

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Hindsight is 20/20. Live and Learn. With age comes wisdom. We’re familiar with all those expressions, and all of them apply to lessons first-time renters learn.

decorative image for Renters Insurance 101: What It Is, What It Covers, and Why You Need It article

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

Written by: Robin Stewart

Insurance seems to be a part of life. In some states, having insurance is the law, as is the case for automobile insurance. Renters are no exception.