BAH Rate Lookup
Look up 2025 Basic Allowance for Housing rates by military installation. BAH is a tax-free monthly allowance that helps service members cover housing costs based on duty station, pay grade, and dependency status.
Need your exact BAH rate?
The official DOD BAH calculator provides exact rates for any ZIP code, pay grade, and dependency status. The reference table below covers the 20 most common installation areas.
Filter Reference Rates
Reference table below shows E-5, E-7, O-3, and O-5 rates. For other grades, use the official DOD calculator.
BAH rates are ZIP-code specific. Enter yours and use the official calculator link above for exact rates.
2025 BAH Rates by Installation
Monthly rates for the 20 most common military installation areas
| Location | ZIP | E-5 | E-7 | O-3 | O-5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | 92134 | $3,393 | $3,573 | $3,648 | $3,924 |
| Norfolk / Virginia Beach, VA | 23511 | $2,250 | $2,424 | $2,529 | $2,772 |
| Fort Liberty (Bragg), NC | 28310 | $1,614 | $1,758 | $1,884 | $2,058 |
| JBSA (San Antonio), TX | 78234 | $1,857 | $2,019 | $2,130 | $2,361 |
| Fort Campbell, KY | 42223 | $1,500 | $1,635 | $1,743 | $1,911 |
| Fort Cavazos (Hood), TX | 76544 | $1,527 | $1,668 | $1,776 | $1,944 |
| Camp Pendleton, CA | 92055 | $3,057 | $3,234 | $3,318 | $3,564 |
| Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA | 98433 | $2,412 | $2,598 | $2,715 | $2,964 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 80913 | $2,046 | $2,220 | $2,337 | $2,568 |
| Jacksonville / Camp Lejeune, NC | 28547 | $1,536 | $1,674 | $1,782 | $1,953 |
| Fort Stewart, GA | 31314 | $1,545 | $1,683 | $1,791 | $1,962 |
| Fort Carson, CO | 80913 | $2,046 | $2,220 | $2,337 | $2,568 |
| Honolulu / Schofield, HI | 96853 | $3,168 | $3,339 | $3,432 | $3,681 |
| Fort Meade, MD | 20755 | $2,583 | $2,775 | $2,895 | $3,153 |
| Fort Belvoir / DC Area, VA | 22060 | $2,697 | $2,895 | $3,012 | $3,276 |
| Eglin AFB, FL | 32542 | $1,749 | $1,905 | $2,016 | $2,214 |
| Fort Drum, NY | 13602 | $1,575 | $1,716 | $1,827 | $2,001 |
| Fort Riley, KS | 66442 | $1,413 | $1,539 | $1,644 | $1,803 |
| Fort Bliss, TX | 79916 | $1,506 | $1,641 | $1,749 | $1,917 |
| Fort Eisenhower (Gordon), GA | 30905 | $1,458 | $1,590 | $1,695 | $1,860 |
Showing with dependents rates. Toggle above to switch. Rates are approximate 2025 values from DTMO.
What is BAH?
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a U.S. military allowance that provides uniformed service members with equitable housing compensation based on housing costs in their local civilian market. It is designed to offset the cost of housing when government quarters are not provided.
Tax-Free
BAH is not subject to federal or state income tax. This makes your effective compensation higher than the dollar amount alone suggests. For example, $2,400/mo in BAH is equivalent to roughly $3,000+ in pre-tax salary.
Location-Based
Rates are calculated using local rental market data collected by the DOD. Higher cost-of-living areas like San Diego, Honolulu, and the DC metro area have significantly higher BAH rates than lower-cost installations.
Rate Protection
If BAH rates decrease in your area, you are “grandfathered” at the higher rate as long as your status (location, pay grade, and dependency status) does not change. Rates can only go up for you, never down.
How BAH is Calculated
BAH rates are determined annually by the Department of Defense based on three factors:
- Duty station location — based on the ZIP code of your permanent duty station
- Pay grade — higher grades receive higher BAH to reflect appropriate housing standards
- Dependency status — service members with dependents receive a higher rate
The DOD surveys rental costs in each military housing area (MHA), including median rent for apartments and townhouses of appropriate size for each pay grade. BAH is intended to cover the median rent plus average utilities and renter's insurance, with the member contributing a small out-of-pocket amount.
Who Receives BAH?
- Active-duty service members who are not provided government housing
- Married service members or those with other dependents (children, elderly parents)
- Single E-6 and above (generally), though policies vary by service branch
- Single junior enlisted may receive BAH in some locations where barracks capacity is insufficient
BAH During Military Transition
Post-9/11 GI Bill Housing Allowance: 180-Day Rule
If you separate from the military and begin using your Post-9/11 GI Bill, you are eligible for a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) equivalent to the E-5 with dependents BAH rate for your school's ZIP code. This benefit is available as long as you are enrolled more than half-time in an in-person program. The “180-day rule” refers to the fact that if you enroll in school within 180 days of your separation date, there is typically no gap in housing allowance payments.
Key Transition Facts
- Terminal leave: You continue to receive full BAH at your duty station rate while on terminal leave, even if you relocate to a different area.
- Separation / retirement: BAH stops on your last day of active duty (your date of separation on your DD-214).
- GI Bill MHA: Post-9/11 GI Bill housing allowance is paid at the E-5 with dependents BAH rate regardless of your actual rank or dependency status while you were serving. The rate is based on your school's ZIP code, not your home address.
- Online-only students: If you are enrolled exclusively online, GI Bill MHA is paid at 50% of the national average BAH rate, not the local rate.
- Breaks between terms: MHA is not paid during breaks between semesters unless the break is shorter than the standard interval (typically under 28 days for winter/spring breaks, and under 8 weeks for summer).
- VR&E (Chapter 31): Veterans using Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment receive a separate subsistence allowance, not standard BAH, though rates are similar.
Planning Your Transition Housing
When planning your post-military housing, consider that your GI Bill housing allowance may be different from the BAH you received on active duty. The MHA is always calculated at the E-5 with dependents rate, so if you were a senior NCO or officer, expect a lower housing payment. Use the reference table above to find the E-5 “with dependents” rate for your school area to plan your budget.
If you plan to use the GI Bill in a high-cost area, the MHA can be a significant financial benefit. For example, an E-5 with dependents rate in San Diego is approximately $3,393/month tax-free, which is equivalent to roughly $4,500/month in pre-tax income.
Rates shown are 2025 reference values. BAH rates are updated annually each January. Verify current rates at the official DOD BAH calculator.
Important Disclaimer
This page provides reference rates only for educational and planning purposes. Actual BAH rates depend on your specific duty station ZIP code, pay grade, and dependency status as determined by the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO). Rates shown are approximate 2025 values and may differ from official published rates. Always verify your exact entitlement through your finance office or the official DOD BAH calculator. This tool does not store or transmit any of your information.