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BAH Calculator: 2026 Rates by Duty Station

Look up your BAH rate by ZIP code, rank, and dependency status — with PCS comparison mode.

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Enter your duty station and rank

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See your official 2026 BAH rate

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Compare across duty stations

O-7 through O-10 receive the same BAH rate per DoD policy.

We'll match your ZIP or installation to the correct BAH area.

ZIP codes map to Military Housing Areas (MHAs). Multiple ZIP codes may share the same BAH rate.

Enter a ZIP code to see BAH rates

BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) is a monthly payment based on duty station location, pay grade, and dependency status — excluded from federal taxable income. Rates vary significantly by location: an E-5 with dependents receives $1,218/month in some markets and $3,975/month in San Diego. This calculator looks up your exact 2026 BAH rate using official DTMO data for all 40,959 ZIP codes.

How Much Does BAH Vary Between Fort Bragg and San Diego?

Scenario: E-5, 2026 rates — comparing Fort Bragg, NC (ZIP 28310) to NAS North Island / Naval Station San Diego, CA (ZIP 92134). Same rank, same benefits, dramatically different numbers.

Fort Bragg, NC (28310) — With Dependents$1,806/mo
Fort Bragg, NC (28310) — Without Dependents$1,527/mo
San Diego, CA (92134) — With Dependents$3,975/mo
Monthly BAH Difference (w/deps, SD vs. Fort Bragg)+$2,169/mo
Annual BAH Difference+$26,028/yr

What this means: An E-5 with dependents stationed in San Diego receives $26,028 more per year in housing allowance than the same rank at Fort Bragg — excluded from federal taxable income. That $2,169/month gap can make a meaningful difference in savings potential, and is often the deciding factor when comparing PCS offer packages between high-cost and low-cost duty stations.

Official 2026 DTMO Data

BAH Rates by Military Installation

2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rates for 142 major U.S. military installations — every pay grade, with and without dependents, plus local housing market context.

Select an installation below, or search by name, city, state, or branch.

California

Fort Irwin (National Training Center)

Barstow, CA · Army

$2,001/mo E-5 w/dep

Travis AFB

Fairfield, CA · Air Force

$3,369/mo E-5 w/dep

Vandenberg Space Force Base

Lompoc, CA · Space Force / Air Force

$3,333/mo E-5 w/dep

Edwards AFB

Lancaster, CA · Air Force

$2,658/mo E-5 w/dep

Naval Station San Diego

San Diego, CA · Navy

$3,975/mo E-5 w/dep

Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

Oceanside, CA · Marine Corps

$3,963/mo E-5 w/dep

MCAS Miramar

San Diego, CA · Marine Corps

$3,975/mo E-5 w/dep

Naval Base Ventura County

Port Hueneme, CA · Navy

$3,537/mo E-5 w/dep

MCAGCC Twentynine Palms

Twentynine Palms, CA · Marine Corps

$1,980/mo E-5 w/dep

Presidio of Monterey

Monterey, CA · Army

$3,465/mo E-5 w/dep

Beale AFB

Marysville, CA · Air Force

$2,967/mo E-5 w/dep

Los Angeles AFB

El Segundo, CA · Space Force / Air Force

$3,882/mo E-5 w/dep

NAS Lemoore

Lemoore, CA · Navy

$2,139/mo E-5 w/dep

Naval Amphibious Base Coronado

Coronado, CA · Navy

$3,975/mo E-5 w/dep

NAS North Island

Coronado, CA · Navy

$3,975/mo E-5 w/dep

Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake

Ridgecrest, CA · Navy

$1,563/mo E-5 w/dep

MCRD San Diego

San Diego, CA · Marine Corps

$3,975/mo E-5 w/dep

Naval Postgraduate School

Monterey, CA · Navy

$3,465/mo E-5 w/dep

What is BAH?

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a monthly housing allowance generally paid to eligible service members in the United States who are not assigned government housing. It is excluded from federal income tax, FICA, and most state income taxes.

BAH is determined by three factors: your pay grade, your duty station's Military Housing Area (MHA), and whether you have dependents. It does not depend on your actual rent — you receive the same published rate whether your actual rent is higher or lower, so housing choices can create a monthly surplus or shortfall.

How BAH rates are set

BAH is designed to cover approximately 95% of median rent plus average utilities for your pay grade, with a 5% out-of-pocket cost-sharing element built into the program. Rates are calculated by Military Housing Area, pay grade, and dependency status using local rental and utility data. The Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) surveys local rental markets each year and updates rates every January 1st based on the prior year's survey data.

Because surveys lag the market by roughly a year, BAH may not perfectly match current rents in rapidly changing markets — but it is always benchmarked against real local data, not a flat national rate.

Rate protection

If BAH rates decrease in a future year, your rate is protected — you keep your current rate as long as your pay grade, duty station, and dependency status stay the same. This is called “rate protection” or “grandfathering.”

Rate protection resets when your dependency status changes (e.g., you gain or lose dependents) or when you PCS to a new duty station. In those cases, you receive the current rate for your new situation.

With vs. without dependents

The “with dependents” rate applies if you have any qualifying dependent — a spouse, child, or other dependent listed in DEERS. You only need one qualifying dependent to receive the higher rate, and you receive it even if your dependent does not live with you (e.g., geographically separated families).

BAH does not increase based on the number of dependents — one dependent and four dependents receive the same rate. The “without dependents” rate applies to single service members and those whose dependents are not enrolled in DEERS.

Edge cases — dual-military couples, child support-only situations, custody arrangements, government quarters, and unaccompanied tours — can change the entitlement. Verify your specific situation with your finance office.

BAH and your taxes

BAH is excluded from gross income for federal income tax, FICA (Social Security and Medicare), and most state income taxes under 26 U.S.C. § 134. It does not appear on your W-2 as taxable wages. State treatment generally follows the federal exclusion, but residency and state-specific rules can vary. Verify with your state tax guidance.

This tax exclusion meaningfully increases the real value of BAH. A service member in the 22% federal bracket receiving $2,500/month in BAH is effectively receiving the equivalent of $3,205/month in taxable civilian compensation.

BAH and PCS moves

When you PCS to a new duty station, your BAH transitions to the rate for your new MHA. Use the Compare mode above to see the difference between your current and gaining stations before you move — this is essential input for your housing budget.

During a PCS move, you may be entitled to BAH at your old station, your new station, or both for a limited period, depending on your situation. Consult your S1/J1 or PSD for your specific transition entitlements.

To estimate your full PCS entitlements — DLA, MALT mileage, per diem, TLE, and PPM/DITY net proceeds — see the PCS Cost Estimator.

To compare total compensation — BAH, state income tax, CONUS COLA, and estimated take-home pay — between two specific duty stations, use the Compare Your PCS Move.

Situations where BAH does not apply

  • Living in government-provided housing (barracks, quarters) — BAH is not paid
  • Stationed overseas — service members assigned to overseas duty stations receive OHA (Overseas Housing Allowance) instead of BAH. Unaccompanied overseas tours with dependents remaining in the U.S. may involve both OHA and BAH, but the rules are complex; contact your finance office for your specific entitlement
  • U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, USVI) — these locations are treated as overseas for housing allowance purposes and receive OHA, not BAH
  • Single E-1 through E-3 members in many locations are required to live in barracks
  • Members under the Basic Allowance for Housing Reserve Component (BAH-RC) have different rules

Disclaimer

MilPayTools calculators use official DoD rate tables (2026) for educational purposes only. Results are estimates and may not reflect your exact situation. Always verify your BAH entitlement with your unit's Finance Office or your MyPay account. The authoritative source for BAH rates is the DTMO BAH Rate Lookup. This tool is not affiliated with the Department of Defense or any government agency.

Learn More

Military Pay & Compensation Guide →PCS & Duty Station Financial Guide →

Looking for rates by base? Browse all BAH station pages →

Source: DTMO 2026 BAH rate tables. Last reviewed: September 18, 2026.