Kadena Air Base
Okinawa, Japan · Air Force / Army / Marine Corps / Navy
Know your overseas pay
At Kadena Air Base you receive OHA + COLA — not BAH
How OHA works
Reimburses your actual rent up to a pay-grade ceiling
Plan your move
Estimate your PCS move costs
Kadena Air Base doesn't use BAH
Service members stationed at Kadena Air Base receive the Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) plus an OCONUS Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA) instead of BAH. OHA works differently from the stateside flat-rate allowance:
Tied to your actual rent
Reimburses what you pay up to a ceiling set by pay grade and locality — not a fixed monthly amount.
No keeping the difference
If your rent is below the ceiling, you receive only what you actually pay. Unlike BAH, there's no spread to pocket.
Extra allowances on top
A separate utility / recurring-maintenance allowance is added, and a one-time Move-In Housing Allowance (MIHA) may apply.
Because OHA depends on your actual lease, there's no single rate to display here. Official OHA ceilings are published by the DoD Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO).
Quick Facts
Location
Okinawa, JP
Branch
Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy
Housing
OHA
More about OHA at Kadena Air Base
Two more things to know about how OHA works at Kadena Air Base:
OHA rates are set by location and updated more frequently than BAH — often quarterly — to account for exchange rate changes and local market shifts.
If living in government or on-base housing, OHA is forfeited — the same rule that applies to BAH.
Use the DTMO OHA calculator at travel.dod.mil for your specific OHA ceiling. Contact your gaining unit's housing office for current local rates and MIHA entitlements.
OCONUS members at Kadena receive Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA), not BAH. Okinawa off-base housing ranges from affordable local neighborhoods to Japanese-style homes. Contact the housing referral office at your gaining unit.
OCONUS COLA
Kadena members receive OCONUS COLA based on the Okinawa area cost index. Okinawa COLA is typically lower than the Tokyo/Yokota rate but still meaningful, reflecting Okinawa's lower cost of living compared to mainland Japan. COLA adjusts with the yen-dollar exchange rate — when the yen weakens, purchasing power off base decreases and COLA may adjust accordingly. Look up current rates with the DTMO COLA calculator (travel.dod.mil); your LES in myPay shows what you're actually receiving.
View CONUS COLA calculator → (OCONUS uses a separate calculation method)Financial context for Kadena Air Base
Okinawa's cost of living is lower than mainland Japan and lower than Tokyo — but still above most CONUS locations. On-base commissary, BX, and food court keep daily expenses manageable for members who use them.
Housing choice matters: many families live off-base in Okinawan neighborhoods or in larger homes north of the base. The Kadena housing referral office maintains an active list of vetted off-base rentals at current market rates.
Vehicles on Okinawa: one POV ships free. Okinawa has specific SOFA rules for operating vehicles, and left-hand traffic requires real adjustment. Some families ship a car; others buy locally. Japanese vehicle registration is required.
Island living adds recreational spending: diving, snorkeling, and beach activities are popular but cost money. The beaches themselves are free — gear rental, guided boat trips, and inter-island flights are not.
Kadena is approximately 1,000 miles from Tokyo. Flights to Tokyo cost approximately $200–400 round-trip and require planning. Most families treat Kadena as a self-contained assignment with weekend trips to nearby Okinawan areas.
What to know before you move to Kadena Air Base
Passport, medical, and dental clearances take time — start 6+ months before your report date. Delays cost money and limit your housing options on arrival.
Okinawan lease norms include deposits and agent fees partially covered by MIHA. Work through the housing referral office for any off-base lease — they know which landlords work with SOFA personnel and have current rates.
Typhoon preparedness is not optional — Okinawa is in the Pacific typhoon belt. During base lockdowns, families in off-base housing need supplies on hand. Budget a modest emergency preparedness fund.
Okinawa runs on 100V at 60Hz (the US is 120V). Most American appliances work without modification on the slightly lower voltage; heavy-draw items run a touch underpowered, and a step-up transformer (100V→120V) fixes those if needed.
Set up a no-foreign-transaction-fee bank account before leaving CONUS. SOFA fuel rations and on-base shopping reduce yen spending, but you'll still need yen for off-base daily life.
Key Insights for Kadena Air Base
State income tax is set by your state of legal residence, not your duty station — being stationed overseas doesn't change that.
What to do next
Your overseas pay is the starting point. Here are the calculations that matter most for your PCS decision.
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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.