Active Duty Pay

CONUS COLA Calculator

Continental U.S. Cost of Living Allowance supplements pay at high-cost duty stations. Enter your ZIP code to check eligibility and see approximate monthly rates.

CONUS COLA Lookup

Duty station ZIP code

Pay grade

Dependency status

2026 update: CONUS COLA eligibility changed significantly for FY2026. Several areas lost eligibility, including Greater Boston and multiple California locations. Seattle/Puget Sound gained eligibility. NYC rates were reduced from 8% to 4%. Always verify your specific ZIP code rate at DTMO before relying on this tool.

Enter a 5-digit duty station ZIP code to check CONUS COLA eligibility.

What is CONUS COLA?

CONUS COLA (Continental U.S. Cost of Living Allowance) is a supplemental pay entitlement for service members stationed in high-cost CONUS locations where the cost of living substantially exceeds the national average. It is paid in addition to BAH and BAS — it does not replace or reduce those allowances.

CONUS COLA is governed by 37 U.S.C. § 403b and administered by the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO), which publishes official rates by location, grade, and dependency status each fiscal year.

How CONUS COLA differs from BAH

Feature	BAH	CONUS COLA
Purpose	Offset housing costs	Offset overall high cost of living
Who receives it	All members assigned to CONUS duty stations	Members at specific high-cost CONUS locations only
Taxable?	No — tax-free	Yes — taxable income
Basis	Pay grade + ZIP code + dependency status	Pay grade + qualifying area + dependency status
Updated	January 1 each year	Annually by DTMO
Paid together?	Yes — both can be paid simultaneously	Yes — paid in addition to BAH

Which areas qualify for CONUS COLA?

CONUS COLA is authorized for locations where the cost of goods and services exceeds the national average by a threshold defined by DTMO. The qualifying areas are predominantly in California (Bay Area, Monterey, Los Angeles, San Diego, and surrounding counties), the Northeast (New York City metro, Boston, and Connecticut), and the National Capital Region.

Most CONUS duty stations do not qualify — CONUS COLA is a relatively narrow entitlement compared to BAH. Members stationed at installations like Fort Liberty (Fayetteville, NC), Fort Cavazos (Killeen, TX), or most Midwest and Southeast installations do not receive CONUS COLA.

DTMO updates the qualifying areas list annually. If your duty station is near a borderline area, verify using the official DTMO tool at travel.dod.mil.

CONUS COLA and your tax picture

Unlike BAH and BAS, which are excluded from federal income tax, CONUS COLA is fully taxable. This is an important distinction when calculating your total take-home compensation.

If you receive $300/month in CONUS COLA and are in the 22% federal tax bracket, your after-tax benefit is approximately $234/month ($300 × 0.78). Factor this in when comparing duty station financial packages — the pre-tax COLA amount overstates the actual take-home value.

Related calculators

Total Military Compensation Calculator — See your full compensation package including BAH, BAS, and tax advantages
BAH Calculator — Look up your Basic Allowance for Housing by ZIP code and pay grade
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Disclaimer

MilPayTools calculators use official DoD and VA rate tables (2026) for educational purposes only. Results are estimates and may not reflect your exact situation. Always verify your pay and benefits with your unit's Finance Office, your MyPay account, or an accredited military financial counselor. Tax calculations are illustrative estimates — consult a tax professional for personalized advice. This tool is not affiliated with the Department of Defense, the VA, or any government agency.