2026 BAH Rates

Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story

Virginia Beach, Virginia · Navy / Army

JBLCFS is home to the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command and SEAL Team Six (DEVGRU), hosting the primary East Coast training and staging areas for amphibious and special operations.

Quick Facts

Location

Virginia Beach, VA

Branch

Navy, Army

MHA

Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA

E-5 w/dep BAH

$2,430/mo

State Tax

4.8% (Virginia)

2026 BAH Rates — Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA

Monthly rates. Source: DTMO 2026 BAH data. BAH is not taxable income.

Pay GradeWith DependentsWithout Dependents
Enlisted
E-1 (PVT/SR/Amn/Pvt)$2,229$1,707
E-2 (PV2/FA/A1C/PFC)$2,229$1,707
E-3 (PFC/SA/SrA/LCpl)$2,229$1,707
E-4 (SPC/Cpl/SN/Cpl)$2,229$1,707
E-5 (SGT/PO2/SSgt)$2,430$1,908
E-6 (SSG/PO1/TSgt)$2,559$2,043
E-7 (SFC/CPO/MSgt)$2,604$2,235
E-8 (MSG/1SG/SCPO)$2,661$2,463
E-9 (SGM/CSM/MCPO)$2,796$2,487
Warrant Officer
W-1 (WO1)$2,574$2,166
W-2 (CW2)$2,628$2,460
W-3 (CW3)$2,697$2,496
W-4 (CW4)$2,832$2,562
W-5 (CW5)$3,000$2,616
Officer (Prior Enlisted)
O-1E (2LT — prior enlisted)$2,613$2,427
O-2E (1LT — prior enlisted)$2,685$2,481
O-3E (CPT — prior enlisted)$2,859$2,547
Officer
O-1 (2LT/ENS/2ndLt)$2,454$2,022
O-2 (1LT/LTJG/1stLt)$2,556$2,367
O-3 (CPT/LT/Capt)$2,694$2,505
O-4 (MAJ/LCDR/Maj)$3,054$2,601
O-5 (LTC/CDR/LtCol)$3,318$2,625
O-6 (COL/CAPT/Col)$3,342$2,673
O-7 (BG/RDML/BGen)$3,366$2,718

O-8, O-9, and O-10 receive the same BAH as O-7. Rates effective January 1, 2026.

How This Market Compares

E-5 w/dep BAH here

$2,430/mo

National avg E-5 w/dep

$1,987/mo

vs. National avg

+$443/mo

Virginia Beach is a popular coastal market with high demand. BAH is competitive for the region, and the oceanfront premium means many servicemembers choose neighborhoods further from the beach for better value.

Key Insights for Joint Base Little Creek-Fort Story

  • An E-5 with dependents receives $2,430/month BAH — or $29,160/year — to cover housing costs in the Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA area.

  • Virginia taxes military base pay at approximately 4.8%. BAH and BAS remain tax-free at the federal and state level.

  • BAH is designed to cover median rental costs — not average or premium rents. Members living in above-median housing pay the difference out of pocket; those in below-median housing keep the surplus.

Calculate Your Full Military Pay

BAH is one component. See your total compensation including base pay, BAS, and tax savings.

Data Source & Disclaimer

BAH rates are from the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) 2026 BAH data, effective January 1, 2026. Rates are set by Military Housing Area (MHA), not individual ZIP code — all ZIPs in the same MHA receive identical rates. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with DoD, DTMO, or any government agency. Verify your entitlement at travel.dod.mil.