Presidio of Monterey
Monterey, California · Army
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Quick reference: 2026 BAH rates at Presidio of Monterey
For 2026, BAH rates at Presidio of Monterey (Monterey, CA MHA) are: E-4 with dependents: $3,249/mo · E-5 without dependents: $2,844/mo · E-5 with dependents: $3,465/mo · E-6 with dependents: $3,867/mo · E-7 with dependents: $4,218/mo · O-3 with dependents: $4,824/mo. BAH is excluded from federal taxable income. Full rates for all pay grades are in the table below.
Showing E-5 with dependents for the Monterey, CA MHA.
Year over year: ▲ +$183 (5.6%) vs 2025
Quick Facts
Location
Monterey, CA
Branch
Army
MHA
Monterey, CA
E-5 w/dep
$3,465/mo
State Tax
6.5% (California)
CONUS COLA
Eligible (high)
How This Market Compares
Presidio of Monterey BAH for an E-5 with dependents is $3,465/month — $1,404/month above the national median of $2,061. That ranks the Monterey, CA MHA 27th-highest of the 338 military housing areas tracked nationwide (top 8%) for the E-5 with-dependents rate.
E-5 w/dep BAH here
$3,465/mo
Natl median E-5 w/dep
$2,061/mo
vs. national median
+$1,404/mo
BAH vs. Local Rent
Across this area, 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent runs about $2,690–$4,240 (median $3,440).
E-5 w/dep BAH
$3,465/mo
2BR rent (HUD FMR, FY2026)
$3,440 median
$2,690–$4,240 range
BAH for E-5 with dependents ($3,465) falls within the area's 2-bedroom rent range — it covers a 2-bedroom in lower-cost ZIPs, while pricier ZIPs run higher.
BAH is designed to cover about 95% of typical local housing costs — rent plus utilities — for a member's pay grade and dependency status, leaving a roughly 5% member cost share.
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent (HUD, FY2026). 2-bedroom is the reference point closest to junior- and mid-grade housing; larger households and senior grades typically need more space. Rent figures are HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents matched to this installation's Military Housing Area by ZIP code. MHA boundaries and HUD rent areas don't align perfectly, so these are area-level reference figures, not a personalized rent estimate. FMR is a gross-rent figure that includes tenant-paid utilities — the same basis BAH is built on.
How Presidio of Monterey BAH is set
BAH is set by Military Housing Area (MHA), not by your specific ZIP code or neighborhood. Presidio of Monterey falls in the Monterey, CA MHA — every installation and address in that MHA receives the same rate for a given pay grade and dependency status, so multiple bases can share one rate.
Presidio of Monterey shares the Monterey, CA MHA with Naval Postgraduate School — all receive identical BAH.
For 2026, the E-5 with-dependents rate at Presidio of Monterey rose $183 (+5.6%) from 2025's $3,282/month — about $2,196 more over the year, excluded from federal taxable income. That's above the national average BAH increase of 4.2% for 2026. Year-over-year change reflects published table rates; individual rate protection may keep your personal rate higher.
2026 BAH Rates — Monterey, CA
Monthly rates for all pay grades. Source: DTMO 2026 BAH data. BAH is not taxable income.
E-4 w/dep: $3,249/mo·E-5 w/dep: $3,465/mo·E-6 w/dep: $3,867/mo
| Pay Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| Enlisted | ||
| E-1 (PVT/SR/Amn/Pvt) | $3,249▲ +$135 (4.3%) | $2,493▲ +$156 (6.7%) |
| E-2 (PV2/FA/A1C/PFC) | $3,249▲ +$135 (4.3%) | $2,493▲ +$156 (6.7%) |
| E-3 (PFC/SA/SrA/LCpl) | $3,249▲ +$135 (4.3%) | $2,493▲ +$156 (6.7%) |
| E-4 (SPC/Cpl/SN/Cpl) | $3,249▲ +$135 (4.3%) | $2,493▲ +$156 (6.7%) |
| E-5 (SGT/PO2/SSgt) | $3,465▲ +$183 (5.6%) | $2,844▲ +$111 (4.1%) |
| E-6 (SSG/PO1/TSgt) | $3,867▲ +$249 (6.9%) | $3,054▲ +$93 (3.1%) |
| E-7 (SFC/CPO/MSgt) | $4,218▲ +$228 (5.7%) | $3,258▲ +$138 (4.4%) |
| E-8 (MSG/1SG/SCPO) | $4,599▲ +$210 (4.8%) | $3,549▲ +$195 (5.8%) |
| E-9 (SGM/CSM/MCPO) | $4,956▲ +$207 (4.4%) | $3,717▲ +$156 (4.4%) |
| Warrant Officer | ||
| W-1 (WO1) | $3,894▲ +$249 (6.8%) | $3,183▲ +$114 (3.7%) |
| W-2 (CW2) | $4,374▲ +$219 (5.3%) | $3,546▲ +$195 (5.8%) |
| W-3 (CW3) | $4,842▲ +$192 (4.1%) | $3,720▲ +$156 (4.4%) |
| W-4 (CW4) | $5,001▲ +$213 (4.4%) | $3,951▲ +$246 (6.6%) |
| W-5 (CW5) | $5,196▲ +$240 (4.8%) | $4,305▲ +$222 (5.4%) |
| Officer (Prior Enlisted) | ||
| O-1E (2LT — prior enlisted) | $4,293▲ +$228 (5.6%) | $3,462▲ +$183 (5.6%) |
| O-2E (1LT — prior enlisted) | $4,773▲ +$195 (4.3%) | $3,639▲ +$204 (5.9%) |
| O-3E (CPT — prior enlisted) | $5,031▲ +$219 (4.6%) | $3,861▲ +$249 (6.9%) |
| Officer | ||
| O-1 (2LT/ENS/2ndLt) | $3,519▲ +$192 (5.8%) | $3,030▲ +$84 (2.9%) |
| O-2 (1LT/LTJG/1stLt) | $3,864▲ +$249 (6.9%) | $3,396▲ +$168 (5.2%) |
| O-3 (CPT/LT/Capt) | $4,824▲ +$192 (4.1%) | $3,723▲ +$156 (4.4%) |
| O-4 (MAJ/LCDR/Maj) | $5,259▲ +$249 (5.0%) | $4,245▲ +$225 (5.6%) |
| O-5 (LTC/CDR/LtCol) | $5,565▲ +$297 (5.6%) | $4,464▲ +$210 (4.9%) |
| O-6 (COL/CAPT/Col) | $5,613▲ +$294 (5.5%) | $4,821▲ +$189 (4.1%) |
| O-7 (BG/RDML/BGen) | $5,658▲ +$294 (5.5%) | $4,908▲ +$189 (4.0%) |
O-8, O-9, and O-10 receive the same BAH as O-7. Rates effective January 1, 2026. Year-over-year change reflects published BAH table rates. Individual rate protection means your personal rate may differ if you've maintained eligibility at this location.
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BAH is just one piece of your pay
See your full compensation at Presidio of Monterey — including base pay, BAS, tax advantages, and what a civilian would need to earn to match it.
Calculate your total compensation →Key Insights for Presidio of Monterey
An E-5 with dependents receives $3,465/month — that's $41,580/year in housing money (excluded from federal taxable income) to cover costs in the Monterey, CA market.
California taxes military base pay at approximately 6.5%. BAH and BAS are excluded from federal taxable income; state treatment varies.
Members at Presidio of Monterey are eligible for CONUS COLA — a monthly supplement for high-cost areas (Monterey Peninsula, high tier). Confirm your exact rate with your finance office.
BAH is benchmarked to typical local rental costs for a member's pay grade and dependency status — not premium or above-median housing. Members who choose more expensive housing pay the difference out of pocket.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 BAH rate for an E-5 with dependents at Presidio of Monterey?
For 2026, an E-5 with dependents at Presidio of Monterey receives $3,465/month in BAH (Monterey, CA MHA). Other grades with dependents: E-6 $3,867/month, E-7 $4,218/month, O-3 $4,824/month. E-5 without dependents is $2,844/month. BAH is excluded from federal taxable income.
Which Military Housing Area (MHA) is used for Presidio of Monterey BAH?
Presidio of Monterey is assigned to the Monterey, CA Military Housing Area (MHA). Every installation and address in the same MHA receives the same rate, regardless of exact ZIP or neighborhood. Rates are published annually by the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) and take effect January 1.
How much did Presidio of Monterey BAH change from 2025 to 2026?
For 2026, the E-5 with-dependents rate at Presidio of Monterey rose $183 (+5.6%) from 2025's $3,282/month — about $2,196 more over the year, excluded from federal taxable income. That's above the national average BAH increase of 4.2% for 2026. Rate protection means a member who stays at the same location with the same dependency status keeps their rate even if the published table rate falls.
Does Presidio of Monterey BAH depend on my exact ZIP code?
No. BAH is set by Military Housing Area (MHA), not by your specific ZIP or neighborhood. Presidio of Monterey falls in the Monterey, CA MHA, so every ZIP in that area receives the identical rate for a given pay grade and dependency status.
How does Presidio of Monterey BAH compare with nearby installations?
Nearby installations have their own MHA rates. For an E-5 with dependents: Travis AFB is $96/month lower, Vandenberg Space Force Base is $132/month lower, and Naval Postgraduate School is the same — compared with Presidio of Monterey's $3,465/month.
How does BAH at Presidio of Monterey compare with local rent?
For 2026, an E-5 with dependents at Presidio of Monterey receives $3,465/month in BAH. Across the Monterey, CA area, 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent (HUD, FY2026) runs about $2,690–$4,240 (median $3,440). BAH for an E-5 with dependents ($3,465) falls within the area's 2-bedroom rent range — it covers a 2-bedroom in lower-cost ZIPs, while pricier ZIPs run higher. BAH is designed to cover about 95% of typical local housing costs — rent plus utilities — for a member's pay grade and dependency status.
Is BAH taxable for service members stationed at Presidio of Monterey?
No. BAH is excluded from federal taxable income under the Military Pay Tax Exclusion. Most states also exempt BAH from state income tax, though treatment varies by state. Service members keep the full dollar value of their housing allowance.
Why do Presidio of Monterey and Naval Postgraduate School have the same BAH rate?
Presidio of Monterey shares the Monterey, CA MHA with Naval Postgraduate School — all of them receive identical BAH because the rate is set per MHA, not per installation. A member at any of these locations with the same pay grade and dependency status receives the same amount.
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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.