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MilPayTools
Official 2026 DTMO Data

BAH Rates by Military Installation

2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rates for 72 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.

How BAH Works

Rate Determination

BAH is set by Military Housing Area (MHA) — not by installation address. An MHA typically covers a metropolitan area or county cluster. Every ZIP code maps to one MHA, and everyone in the same MHA receives identical rates regardless of which specific base or ZIP they live in.

Median-Cost Design

DoD sets BAH to cover the median rental cost for each grade in each MHA — not the average, not the lowest. Members in below-median housing keep the difference; members in above-median housing pay the gap out of pocket. The goal is for 80% of members to find housing within their BAH.

Annual Updates

BAH rates are updated each January 1st based on the previous year's rental survey data. Rates can increase, decrease, or stay flat. Members whose rates decrease are protected by rate protection rules — they cannot fall below the prior year's rate while in continuous service in the same MHA.

Tax-Free Income

BAH is not subject to federal or state income taxes. This makes each dollar of BAH worth more than an equivalent dollar of taxable civilian compensation. A servicemember receiving $2,000/month in BAH avoids roughly $400–$600 in taxes compared to a civilian earning the same amount as wages.