Rents are 3% below what Des Moines'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 $2,055 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
November. Asking rents in Des Moines usually run 1.7% below trend in November and 0.8% above it in July, about $51 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Des Moines is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in July 2021.
Rent in Des Moines changed +5.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 97 Washington cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($92,483) is $2,312 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,050); a 2-bedroom is $2,390.
Burien, 5 miles away, rents for 15% less ($1,748/mo), about $3,700 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Des Moines. 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.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Des Moines, WA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 33.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Des Moines, WA has changed in 5 years
Rent in Des Moines, WA has climbed 19.7% since 2022, going from about $1,717 per month to roughly $2,055 today. Census figures show median household income at $92,483 today, compared with $73,131 five years earlier. Income growth outran rent by about 6.8 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. About 39.4% of households rent today, against 41.1% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 29.4% to 33.4%. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2022.
Discussions about Des Moines
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Des Moines on your salary?
At $2,055/mo, how Des Moines rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Des Moines rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Des Moines. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Des Moines
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Des Moines is $2,055/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,990/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,390/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,050/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,160/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($92,483/yr), Des Moines ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Des Moines?
Is rent going up or down in Des Moines?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Des Moines?
How does Des Moines rent compare to other cities in Washington?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Des Moines?
At $2,055/mo, rent takes ~27% of Des Moines's median household income ($92,483/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Des Moines.
No discussions yet.