What is the average apartment size in Iowa City?

The average size for a Iowa City, IA apartment is 860 square feet, but this number varies greatly depending on unit type, with cheap and luxury alternatives for houses and apartments alike. Studio apartments are the smallest and most affordable, 1-bedroom apartments are closer to the average, while 2-bedroom apartments and 3-bedroom apartments offer a more generous square footage.

What is the average rent in Iowa City?

As of Apr / 2026, the average rent in Iowa City is $1,493 per month, a 0.5% decrease from last years average of $1,500.

How much does rent cost by apartment size in Iowa City?

In Iowa City, studios rent for $1,173 per month, one-bedroom units average $1,077 per month, two-bedrooms cost around $1,394 per month, and three-bedroom apartments rent for about $2,061 per month

What is the average apartment size in Iowa City?

The typical apartment in Iowa City offers about 860 sq. ft. square feet of living space, though actual sizes vary depending on layout and amenities.

How large are apartments by bedroom count in Iowa City?

Studio apartments in Iowa City average 386 sq. ft., one-bedrooms offer 606 sq. ft., two-bedrooms are about 876 sq. ft., and three-bedroom apartments average 1,151 sq. ft.

Iowa City, IA Rental Market Trends

Q: What's the typical rent budget in Iowa City?

The typical rent budget in Iowa City ranges from $1,001 to $1,500 per month, with 41% of rentals in this range.

Q: Do most people rent or own in Iowa City?

In Iowa City, 53% of households rent while 47% own their homes, based on the latest U.S. Census data.

Last updated: May 24, 2026 | Source: RentCafe Market Analysis, Yardi Matrix, U.S. Census Bureau

Highlights

The average rent for an apartment in Iowa City is $1,493, a 0.5% decrease compared to the previous year, when the average rent was $1,500.

Studio Apartments at $1,173 offer the most budget-friendly option with 386 square feet, ideal for single renters prioritizing location over space.

One-bedroom apartments provide 606 square feet for $1,077, balancing privacy and affordability.

Two-beedroom units at $1,394 offer 876 square feet, perfect for roommates or small families.

Three-bedroom apartments deliver maximum space (1,151 sq ft) for $2,061, suitable for larger households.

Average rent in Iowa City, IA

Last updated: May 24, 2026

	Average Rent	Average Apartment Size
All Rentals	$1,493	860 sq. ft.
Studio	$1,173	386 sq. ft.
1 Bed	$1,077	606 sq. ft.
2 Beds	$1,394	876 sq. ft.
3 Beds	$2,061	1,151 sq. ft.

Iowa City, IA rent trends

Rental prices in Iowa City, IA have decreased by 0.5% over the past year. The average rent moved from $1,500 to $1,493.

What's the typical rent budget in Iowa City, IA?

The largest share of rentals in Iowa City, IA (41%) fall between $1,001-$1,500 per month. This suggests that most people succesfully find suitable apartments within this price.

Do most people rent or own in Iowa City, IA?

16,271 or 53% of the households in Iowa City, IA are renter-occupied while 14,545 or 47% are owner-occupied.

Average Rent in Iowa City, IA By Neighborhood

Neighborhood	Average Rent
Weeber Harlocke	$1,172
Penny Bryn	$1,033

Iowa City | Rent Comparison by Neighborhood

Rent in Penny Bryn is 12% lower than in Weeber Harlocke

$1,033

Penny Bryn rent is 31% lower than Iowa City average

Average Rent $1,033

$1,172

Weeber Harlocke rent is 21% lower than Iowa City average

Average Rent $1,172

How Iowa City Compares to Other Cities

City	Average Rent
Iowa City	$1,493
Des Moines	$1,097
Cedar Rapids	$1,060
West Des Moines	$1,274
Davenport	$993
Waukee	$1,424
Council Bluffs	$1,237
Ankeny	$1,389
Ames	$1,406
Bettendorf	$1,342
Coralville, IA	$1,351
Marion, IA	$873
North Liberty, IA	$1,670

Where this data comes from

The rental statistics on this page were compiled by RentCafe.com, a nationwide apartment search website trusted by millions of renters to find apartments and houses for rent throughout the U.S.

Rent prices, trends, and apartment sizes were calculated based on data from our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution that covers approximately 90% of the U.S. metro area population. The data includes comprehensive information on all Iowa City apartment buildings with 50 or more units, totaling 23.5 million apartments across 181 U.S. markets.

Housing composition data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, using the most recently available information by tenure.