Rents are 7% above what Iowa City's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
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 $1,713 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
September. Asking rents in Iowa City usually run 1.5% below trend in September and 1.2% above it in January, about $46 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in Iowa City is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2016.
Rent in Iowa City changed +9.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 26 Iowa cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.5%.
Rent in Iowa City is 38.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($58,546) is $1,464 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,160); a 3-bedroom is $1,623.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Iowa City, 52245 ($1,939/mo), costs 20% more than the cheapest, 52246 ($1,619/mo).
Coralville, 5 miles away, rents for 25% less ($1,282/mo), about $5,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Iowa City. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
Iowa City, IA is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 60.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Iowa City, IA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Iowa City, IA has shifted from $1,296 to $1,713, up 32.2% since 2021. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $51,925 in 2021 to $58,546 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Iowa City, IA adding about 1,512 residents over the five-year window, up 2.0% on net. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Iowa City, IA market of 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Iowa City on your salary?
At $1,713/mo, how Iowa City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Iowa City rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Iowa City. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Iowa City
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Iowa City is $1,713/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $853/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,160/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $967/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,623/mo.
At 35% of local median household income ($58,546/yr), Iowa City ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Iowa City?
At $1,713/mo, rent takes ~35% of Iowa City's median household income ($58,546/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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