Rents are 6% below what Council Bluffs's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,335 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Council Bluffs is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2022.
Rent in Council Bluffs changed +2.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 26 Iowa cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.5%.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($64,578) is $1,614 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,460); a 4-bedroom is $1,625.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Council Bluffs. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Council Bluffs, IA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 21.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Council Bluffs, IA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Council Bluffs, IA has shifted from $1,033 to $1,335, up 29.2% since 2022. Median household income climbed from $57,683 to $64,578 between 2021 and 2024, a 12.0% shift. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Council Bluffs, IA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
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Can you afford rent in Council Bluffs on your salary?
At $1,335/mo, how Council Bluffs rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Council Bluffs rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Council Bluffs. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Council Bluffs
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Council Bluffs is $1,335/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $865/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,100/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $920/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,460/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($64,578/yr), Council Bluffs ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Council Bluffs?
At $1,335/mo, rent takes ~25% of Council Bluffs's median household income ($64,578/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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