Studio Apartment Rent in Des Moines, WA
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Des Moines, Washington as of July 2026. That's +1% lower than the citywide median of $2,013 and +54% above the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio in Des Moines
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Des Moines
Compare Des Moines's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a studio in Washington
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aberdeen | $790 |
| 2 | Port Angeles | $800 |
| 3 | Pullman | $800 |
| 4 | Chehalis | $870 |
| 5 | Sedro-Woolley | $893 |
| 6 | Ellensburg | $910 |
| 7 | Longview | $930 |
| 8 | Moses Lake | $940 |
| 9 | Cheney | $950 |
| 10 | Kelso | $950 |
| 11 | Clarkston | $970 |
| 12 | Shelton | $970 |
| 13 | Spokane | $974 |
| 14 | Wenatchee | $990 |
| 15 | Yakima | $1,027 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in Washington
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sammamish | $3,255 |
| 2 | Snoqualmie | $3,060 |
| 3 | Issaquah | $2,815 |
| 4 | Maple Valley | $2,610 |
| 5 | Bothell | $2,473 |
| 6 | North Bend | $2,310 |
| 7 | Mukilteo | $2,310 |
| 8 | Covington | $2,310 |
| 9 | Lake Stevens | $2,280 |
| 10 | Newcastle | $2,260 |
| 11 | Edmonds | $2,180 |
| 12 | Bellevue | $2,152 |
| 13 | Kenmore | $2,140 |
| 14 | Monroe | $2,130 |
| 15 | Lynnwood | $2,070 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Considering nearby alternatives? 5 of these cities have cheaper studio rents than Des Moines.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Des Moines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burien, WA | 5.5 mi | $1,449 | $-541 (-27%) |
| Seatac, WA | 5.7 mi | $1,504 | $-486 (-24%) |
| Federal Way, WA | 6 mi | $1,483 | $-507 (-25%) |
| Tukwila, WA | 6.4 mi | $1,761 | $-229 (-12%) |
| Kent, WA | 6.8 mi | $1,523 | $-467 (-23%) |
| Auburn, WA | 7.7 mi | $1,498 | $-492 (-25%) |
| Bryn Mawr-Skyway, WA | 8.9 mi | $1,536 | $-454 (-23%) |
| Milton, WA | 9.6 mi | $1,990 | — |
| Pacific, WA | 10 mi | $1,293 | $-697 (-35%) |
| Fife, WA | 11.1 mi | $1,630 | $-360 (-18%) |
| Renton, WA | 11.6 mi | $1,684 | $-306 (-15%) |
| Mercer Island, WA | 13.4 mi | $2,046 | +$56 (+3%) |
Studio rent in Des Moines — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Des Moines?
As of July 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Des Moines, Washington is $1,990 per month. This is +1% below the citywide median of $2,013.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Des Moines?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $79,600 ($6,633/month gross), which works out to roughly $38.27/hour at a full-time job.
Is Des Moines expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Des Moines's studio median of $1,990 is +54% above the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 87th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Des Moines rank for studio rent in Washington?
Among the 103 cities in Washington with studio data, Des Moines ranks #80 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Des Moines?
Yes — nearby cities with cheaper studio rents include Burien ($1,449), Seatac ($1,504), Federal Way ($1,483).