2026 BAH Rates

Naval Station San Diego

San Diego, California · Navy

Naval Station San Diego is the primary homeport for the Pacific Fleet surface ships, hosting over 50 ships and supporting the largest naval installation complex on the West Coast.

Quick Facts

Location

San Diego, CA

Branch

Navy

MHA

San Diego, CA

E-5 w/dep BAH

$3,975/mo

State Tax

6.5% (California)

CONUS COLA

Eligible (moderate-high)

2026 BAH Rates — San Diego, CA

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

Pay GradeWith DependentsWithout Dependents
Enlisted
E-1 (PVT/SR/Amn/Pvt)$3,666$2,763
E-2 (PV2/FA/A1C/PFC)$3,666$2,763
E-3 (PFC/SA/SrA/LCpl)$3,666$2,763
E-4 (SPC/Cpl/SN/Cpl)$3,666$2,763
E-5 (SGT/PO2/SSgt)$3,975$3,147
E-6 (SSG/PO1/TSgt)$4,404$3,387
E-7 (SFC/CPO/MSgt)$4,446$3,678
E-8 (MSG/1SG/SCPO)$4,488$4,065
E-9 (SGM/CSM/MCPO)$4,671$4,188
Warrant Officer
W-1 (WO1)$4,425$3,564
W-2 (CW2)$4,464$4,062
W-3 (CW3)$4,521$4,206
W-4 (CW4)$4,731$4,410
W-5 (CW5)$4,992$4,455
Officer (Prior Enlisted)
O-1E (2LT — prior enlisted)$4,449$3,972
O-2E (1LT — prior enlisted)$4,506$4,161
O-3E (CPT — prior enlisted)$4,770$4,398
Officer
O-1 (2LT/ENS/2ndLt)$4,032$3,351
O-2 (1LT/LTJG/1stLt)$4,401$3,873
O-3 (CPT/LT/Capt)$4,518$4,248
O-4 (MAJ/LCDR/Maj)$5,082$4,440
O-5 (LTC/CDR/LtCol)$5,493$4,458
O-6 (COL/CAPT/Col)$5,541$4,494
O-7 (BG/RDML/BGen)$5,586$4,575

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

$3,975/mo

National avg E-5 w/dep

$1,987/mo

vs. National avg

+$1,988/mo

San Diego is one of the most expensive military markets in the country. BAH rates are among the highest in CONUS, but rapidly rising rents mean junior members often struggle to find housing fully covered by BAH alone.

Key Insights for Naval Station San Diego

  • An E-5 with dependents receives $3,975/month BAH — or $47,700/year — to cover housing costs in the San Diego, CA area.

  • California taxes military base pay at approximately 6.5%. BAH and BAS remain tax-free at the federal and state level.

  • Members at Naval Station San Diego are eligible for CONUS COLA — a monthly supplement for high-cost areas (San Diego, moderate-high tier). Confirm your exact rate with your finance office.

  • 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.