Ramstein Air Base OHA, COLA & PCS Housing Guide

How overseas housing allowances work

Which allowance applies depends on your situation. Eligible members renting privately at an overseas station generally receive the Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) for their housing there, plus an overseas Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA). Your orders, whether you're assigned government housing, and where your dependents live determine which housing allowances apply — for example, members serving unaccompanied may receive a housing allowance based on their dependents' location. Your finance office and orders are the authority for your case.

• Rent is reimbursed up to a ceiling. The rent portion of OHA covers what you actually pay, up to a ceiling set by pay grade, dependency status, and locality (DE700 for Ramstein Air Base). If your rent is below the ceiling, the rent portion pays your actual rent — unlike BAH, there's no rent difference to keep.

• Utilities and maintenance are a separate piece. OHA includes a separate monthly utility/recurring maintenance allowance that is not tied to your rent amount.

• A one-time move-in allowance may apply. The Move-In Housing Allowance (MIHA) can help with certain one-time costs of occupying a private rental overseas.

• Government housing changes the picture. Members assigned government or on-base housing generally don't receive OHA for that housing.

• Amounts move with exchange rates. DTMO reviews exchange rates twice a month, so OHA and OCONUS COLA amounts can change between paychecks. That's why this page links to official lookups instead of listing rates.

• OCONUS COLA covers non-housing costs. It helps offset higher prices for everyday goods and services and varies by location, pay grade, years of service, and dependents.

• Tax treatment. OHA and OCONUS COLA are excluded from federal taxable income.

Official lookups

Your LES in myPay shows what you're actually receiving.

Source: DTMO OHA program page; DTMO OCONUS COLA program page; DoD FMR Volume 7A, Chapter 26 (Housing Allowances); DoD FMR Volume 7A, Chapter 68 (Cost of Living Allowance Outside the Continental United States); Military OneSource — USAG Rheinland-Pfalz check-in procedures.

Quick facts

Location

Ramstein-Miesenbach, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany source

Branches

Air Force, Army (Kaiserslautern Military Community) source

OHA locality code

DE700 source

COLA locality

Germany – Ramstein (RP), DE700 source

Co-located installations

Vogelweh, Landstuhl, Kleber Kaserne, Rhine Ordnance Barracks, Pulaski Barracks source

Living near Ramstein Air Base

Ramstein is part of the Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC), a large American community spanning Air Force and Army installations. Most of the KMC community lives off base, and rentals near Ramstein are in high demand. Many local landlords are experienced with SOFA tenants, and the KMC housing office tracks current local rental conditions. source

• KMC housing office
• Ramstein newcomers — before you arrive
• Military OneSource — Ramstein overview

Questions to ask before you sign a lease

• What type of heating does the home use — gas, oil, or heat pump? If oil, who pays for the seasonal fuel fill, and how is it billed? source

• Which utilities and building costs are included in the rent, and which are billed separately or settled in an annual statement? source

• What does the lease (Mietvertrag) require at move-out — painting, restoration, or other condition terms — and what is the notice period? source

• Has the installation housing office reviewed the lease? Many members consider having the office review their first German lease, since terms differ from typical U.S. leases. source

• For off-base internet and phone, what contract length is required, and is the contract in German? The housing office can point to providers commonly used by SOFA tenants. source

What doesn't change overseas

• Basic pay and BAS follow the same tables as stateside.

• State income tax obligations follow your state of legal residence, not your duty station.

Other overseas stations