BAH Calculator 2026
Look up the 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing for your duty station. Enter the base's ZIP code, your pay grade and whether you have dependents.
The ZIP code of your permanent duty station, not where you live.
Your 2026 BAH
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Looking up the housing area for this ZIP code.
This is an estimate from published rules, not a decision by any agency. The agency that runs the program decides your case.
How this is calculated
BAH depends on three things: the ZIP code of your permanent duty station, which places it in one of 338 Military Housing Areas, your pay grade, and whether you have dependents. This calculator uses the Defense Department's 2026 rate file from the Defense Travel Management Office (last updated May 13, 2026). Example: ZIP code 23511 lies in the Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA housing area, where an E-5 with dependents receives $2,430 a month and an E-5 without dependents $1,908.
The rates are built from median rents and utilities (electricity, heat, water and sewer) for six types of housing in each area, then set for every pay grade with and without dependents. BAH does not cover all of it: members carry five percent of the national average housing cost for their grade, between $93 and $212 a month in 2026. On average the 2026 rates rose 4.2% and took effect on January 1, 2026.
If your rate goes down
Individual rate protection applies to all members: as long as you stay eligible at the same location without a break, you keep your current rate even if the area's rate falls.
Mid-year change in 2026
One area changed during the year: Abilene/Dyess AFB, Texas (TX270) received a temporary increase effective May 16, 2026. An E-5 with dependents there went from $1,554 to $1,872 a month. The calculator shows the current rate.
Taxes and the territories
BAH is excluded from federal income tax (IRS Publication 3), and you may still be able to deduct mortgage interest and real estate taxes you pay with it. BAH applies only to duty stations within the 50 states. Members stationed in Puerto Rico, Guam or abroad receive the Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) instead.
2026 BAH at large duty stations
| Housing area | E-5 with dependents | E-5 without | O-3 with dependents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Bragg/Pope, NC | $1,806 | $1,527 | $2,175 |
| Fort Hood, TX | $1,695 | $1,530 | $2,340 |
| San Diego, CA | $3,975 | $3,147 | $4,518 |
| Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA | $2,430 | $1,908 | $2,694 |
| Tacoma, WA | $2,556 | $2,121 | $3,123 |
| San Antonio, TX | $1,869 | $1,500 | $2,127 |
| Fort Campbell, KY | $1,815 | $1,593 | $2,496 |
| Camp Lejeune, NC | $1,584 | $1,476 | $2,085 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $2,358 | $1,860 | $2,595 |
| Fort Benning, GA | $1,716 | $1,482 | $2,058 |
| Honolulu County, HI | $3,663 | $2,856 | $4,428 |
| Camp Pendleton, CA | $3,963 | $3,093 | $4,659 |
| Washington, DC Metro Area | $3,132 | $2,832 | $4,020 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $2,181 | $1,803 | $2,364 |
| El Paso, TX | $1,809 | $1,437 | $2,202 |
| Fort Stewart, GA | $2,310 | $1,947 | $2,598 |
| Fort Drum/Watertown, NY | $1,665 | $1,422 | $2,469 |
| Fort Riley, KS | $1,314 | $1,158 | $1,953 |
| Fort Sill/Lawton, OK | $1,233 | $1,092 | $1,758 |
| Anchorage, AK | $2,874 | $2,157 | $3,360 |
The 2027 rates are expected in December 2026; this page will switch to them once they are published.
Sources
Checked against the sources below on .
Questions people ask
How much is BAH for an E-5 in 2026?
It depends on the duty station. In Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA an E-5 with dependents gets $2,430 a month, in San Diego $3,975. Without dependents it is $1,908 and $3,147.
Is BAH taxable?
No. The IRS lists BAH among the military pay items excluded from gross income. Mortgage interest and real estate taxes paid with BAH may still be deductible if you itemize.
Which ZIP code do I use for BAH?
The ZIP code of your permanent duty station, not of the place where you live. All ZIP codes in the same Military Housing Area get the same rates.
What happens if BAH goes down in my area?
You keep your current rate as long as you remain eligible at the same location without a break. This is called individual rate protection.
How much did BAH go up in 2026?
4.2% on average, effective January 1, 2026. Individual areas rose more or less than that. If an area's rate falls, rate protection keeps current members at their old rate.
When do the 2027 BAH rates come out?
The Defense Department published the 2026 rates on December 11, 2025. The 2027 rates are expected in December 2026 and take effect on January 1, 2027.