How much rent can you afford in Des Moines, IA?
Run your salary against Des Moines's current rent, or find the income you'd need for a target rent. Powered by live RentDataNow medians.
The 30% rent rule, in Des Moines
At a median rent of $1,121/mo, Des Moines is very affordable when measured against Des Moines median household income of $65,932/yr. Rent would consume roughly 20% of pre-tax income, and a salary of about $44,840 keeps rent at the recommended 30% threshold.
How Des Moines compares nearby
Median rent for the closest cities with data.
Frequently asked
How much rent can I afford in Des Moines?
On a $65,932 salary (the Des Moines median household income), the recommended ceiling is 30% of pre-tax income, or about $1,648/mo. Des Moines's median rent is $1,121/mo. Use the calculator on this page to run your own salary.
What salary do I need to live in Des Moines?
To keep Des Moines's $1,121/mo median rent under 30% of income, you'd need about $44,840/yr. Lower your target share (e.g. 25%) to need more, or raise it (e.g. 40%) to need less.
Is Des Moines affordable on the median Iowa income?
Des Moines is very affordable on a $65,932 income. Rent would take 20% of pre-tax pay, inside the recommended 30% threshold.
What's the 30% rent rule?
The 30% rule is a long-standing budgeting guideline that keeps rent at or below 30% of gross (pre-tax) income. It leaves enough room for utilities, transit, savings, and debt service. In high-cost markets, many renters exceed 30%, and the Census Bureau classifies households paying more than 30% of income on rent as "cost-burdened".