Rents are right about where Iowa City's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $1,271 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: August 17, 2026
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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 $1,056 to $1,271, up 20.4% 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.
Discussions about Iowa City
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Can you afford rent in Iowa City on your salary?
At $1,271/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: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Iowa City is $1,271/mo as of August 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 26% of local median household income ($58,546/yr), Iowa City ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Iowa City an affordable city for renters?
How much income do you need to rent in Iowa City?
Is rent going up or down in Iowa City?
Which Iowa City neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Iowa City rent compare to other cities in Iowa?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Iowa City?
What percentage of Iowa City residents rent vs. own?
How does Iowa City rent compare to the national average?
At $1,271/mo, rent takes ~26% of Iowa City's median household income ($58,546/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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