BAH rates for 2026 vary by duty station ZIP, pay grade, and dependency status. Look up your rate at the DoD BAH Rate Lookup. E-5 with dependents is the benchmark rate used in this guide.
Use the full mortgage payment calculator to see what BAH covers after taxes, insurance, and principal and interest.
2026 BAH: What to Know
- Rates vary: BAH rates differ by duty station ZIP, pay grade, and dependency status. San Francisco, New York City, and Boston are at the upper end of the BAH rate table.
- Look up your rate: Use the DoD BAH Rate Lookup to find the exact rate for your duty station, grade, and dependency status.
- Benchmark: This guide uses the E-5 with dependents rate as the comparison baseline.
Rates Change by Location
- Nearby bases differ: Travis AFB and San Francisco are both in Northern California but fall under separate Military Housing Areas with different BAH rates for the same grade.
- Adjacent areas: San Diego and Camp Pendleton are neighboring Military Housing Areas with rates that differ only slightly for the same grade.
- Verify your exact rate at the DoD BAH Rate Lookup before making housing decisions.
Rate Is Not Value
- Wide national spread: E-5 with dependents rates in the national table differ by thousands of dollars per month from one Military Housing Area to another. Rates vary by ZIP code and paygrade.
- Compare BAH to actual rent or a mortgage payment at your location, not rate to rate.
- Look up rates: Use the DoD BAH Rate Lookup to compare your duty station against other areas.
GI Bill Housing Allowance
- The Post-9/11 GI Bill MHA starts from the E-5 with dependents BAH rate for the location where the student physically attends the majority of classes, per VA.gov.
- Online-only students who started using benefits on or after January 1, 2018 receive a flat national rate for the current rate year, per VA.gov. The rate varies by year.
- Students on active duty or enrolled at half time or below are not eligible for MHA, per VA.gov.
Which city is first in the 2026 BAH rate table?
San Francisco CA, New York City, and Boston lead the 2026 BAH table for an E-5 with dependents. Rates vary by ZIP code and paygrade. Look up your rate at the DoD BAH Rate Lookup.
What is the San Diego BAH rate in 2026?
San Diego and Camp Pendleton are adjacent Military Housing Areas in Southern California. Their E-5 with dependents rates differ only slightly. Verify your exact rate at the DoD BAH Rate Lookup.
Which Military Housing Area publishes the bottom BAH rate?
Anniston AL publishes the last E-5 with dependents rate in the national BAH table. Rates vary by ZIP code and paygrade. Verify your rate at the DoD BAH Rate Lookup.
The Bottom Line Up Front
BAH rates for 2026 vary by duty station ZIP, pay grade, and dependency status. San Francisco, New York City, Boston, Northern New Jersey, and Santa Clara County lead the BAH rate table. This guide covers how BAH rates are set, how nearby duty stations can have different rates, and how the Post-9/11 GI Bill uses BAH rates for its Monthly Housing Allowance. Look up your rate at the DoD BAH Rate Lookup and compare against actual housing costs at your duty station before making a rent or buy decision.
2026 BAH Rates by Military Housing Area
DoD publishes BAH rates for each Military Housing Area by pay grade and dependency status. The areas at the upper end of the E-5 with dependents table include San Francisco, New York City, Boston, Northern New Jersey, and Santa Clara County. Rates vary by ZIP code and paygrade. Use the DoD BAH Rate Lookup to find the exact rate for your duty station.
Verify your Military Housing Area at the DoD BAH Rate Lookup to confirm which rate area applies to your duty station ZIP.
San Francisco BAH 2026
San Francisco leads the 2026 BAH table for an E-5 with dependents. Travis AFB falls under a separate Military Housing Area with a different rate for the same grade. Rates vary by ZIP code and paygrade.
- Leads the table: San Francisco publishes the first E-5 with dependents rate in the national BAH table for CY 2026.
- Travis AFB comparison: Travis AFB is a separate Military Housing Area in Northern California with a different rate for the same grade.
- GI Bill: Students attending in-person classes at a San Francisco campus receive MHA starting from the San Francisco BAH rate, subject to eligibility tier and rate of pursuit per VA.gov.
- Duty station matters: Confirm whether your orders assign you to a San Francisco ZIP or a Travis AFB ZIP, because the rate difference is significant. Use the DoD BAH Rate Lookup.
New York City BAH 2026
New York City is near the upper end of the BAH table for an E-5 with dependents in CY 2026. Surrounding areas including Westchester County, Long Island, and Northern New Jersey each have their own rates. Rates vary by ZIP code and paygrade.
- High-rate area: New York City publishes an E-5 with dependents rate near the upper end of the national BAH table for CY 2026.
- Surrounding areas: Westchester County, Long Island, and Northern New Jersey are separate Military Housing Areas with their own rates. Use the DoD BAH Rate Lookup to compare.
- GI Bill: Students attending in-person classes in the New York City rate area receive MHA starting from the New York City BAH rate, subject to eligibility tier and rate of pursuit per VA.gov.
San Diego BAH 2026
San Diego and Camp Pendleton are adjacent Military Housing Areas in Southern California. Their E-5 with dependents rates for CY 2026 are close but not identical. Rates vary by ZIP code and paygrade.
- San Diego and Camp Pendleton: These neighboring Military Housing Areas publish E-5 with dependents rates that differ only slightly. Use the DoD BAH Rate Lookup to see exact figures.
- Compare your BAH to actual rent or a VA loan payment using the full mortgage payment calculator before making a housing decision.
San Jose and Santa Clara County BAH 2026
Santa Clara County is the official Military Housing Area name for the San Jose area. It is near the upper end of the national BAH table for an E-5 with dependents. Rates vary by ZIP code and paygrade.
- High-rate area: Santa Clara County publishes an E-5 with dependents rate near the upper end of the CY 2026 BAH table. Use the DoD BAH Rate Lookup to see the exact figure.
- GI Bill: Students attending in-person classes at Santa Clara County institutions receive MHA starting from the Santa Clara County BAH rate, subject to eligibility tier and rate of pursuit per VA.gov.
BAH at Selected Military Housing Areas
BAH rates at Military Housing Areas across the country range widely for an E-5 with dependents. Rates near major coastal cities and installations in Hawaii differ from rates near inland bases. Rates vary by ZIP code and paygrade. Use the DoD BAH Rate Lookup to find the exact rate for any duty station.
For a detailed look at BAH and buying power in the San Antonio area, see the JBSA BAH rates and buying power guide. Use the full mortgage payment calculator to model a VA loan payment at any price point.
Low BAH Rate Areas: 2026
Military Housing Areas at the low end of the E-5 with dependents table include Anniston AL, Fort Riley KS, Frankfort KY, Jacksonville NC, and Killeen TX. Rates vary by ZIP code and paygrade.
- Anniston AL: Publishes the last E-5 with dependents rate in the national BAH table for CY 2026.
- Fort Riley KS, Frankfort KY, Jacksonville NC, Killeen TX: Among the Military Housing Areas at the low end of the table. Look up exact rates at the DoD BAH Rate Lookup.
The spread between the first and last E-5 with dependents rates in the national table covers thousands of dollars per year. BAH rate alone does not indicate housing affordability. Compare your BAH against actual rent or a mortgage payment at your duty station to see what the allowance covers.
How BAH Rates Are Set
DoD publishes BAH rates annually for each Military Housing Area in the United States, per VA.gov. Rates vary by pay grade and dependency status. E-5 with dependents is the benchmark rate used in this guide because it is the rate reported by the VA.gov GI Bill Comparison Tool and the basis for the Post-9/11 GI Bill Monthly Housing Allowance.
- Annual publication: DoD publishes BAH rates by calendar year. This guide uses CY 2026 rates verified October 7, 2026.
- Location-based: Each Military Housing Area has its own rate. Nearby areas can publish different rates. San Francisco and Travis AFB are both in Northern California but publish different rates for the same grade. Use the DoD BAH Rate Lookup to compare.
- Pay grade and dependency: Rates differ by pay grade and whether the member has dependents. This guide uses E-5 with dependents for all comparisons.
- Find your exact rate: Use the DoD BAH Rate Lookup at the Defense Travel Management Office website to look up your specific rate by duty station ZIP, pay grade, and dependency status.
GI Bill Housing Allowance and BAH
The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays a Monthly Housing Allowance that starts from the E-5 with dependents BAH rate for the location where the student physically attends the majority of classes, per VA.gov. VA prorates the MHA by eligibility tier and rate of pursuit.
- In-person students receive MHA starting from the E-5 with dependents BAH rate for the school location. A student attending in-person classes in San Francisco starts from the San Francisco BAH rate, subject to eligibility tier and rate of pursuit per VA.gov.
- Online-only students who started using benefits on or after January 1, 2018 receive a flat national rate for the current rate year, per VA.gov. Rates vary by year.
- National average MHA: Published annually by VA.gov. Rates vary by year.
- Rate year: GI Bill housing rates run from August 1, 2026, to July 31, 2027, per VA.gov.
- Not eligible for MHA: Students on active duty, students enrolled at half time or below, and students taking correspondence or flight training, per VA.gov.
See the Resources section below for the VA rate page.
San Antonio and Texas BAH 2026
JBSA in San Antonio, Fort Hood in the Killeen area, and Austin each fall under separate Military Housing Areas with different BAH rates for the same grade. Rates vary by ZIP code and paygrade.
- JBSA San Antonio: JBSA includes Lackland AFB, Fort Sam Houston, and Randolph AFB. Look up the current rate at the DoD BAH Rate Lookup.
- Fort Hood: Separate Military Housing Area from JBSA with a different rate for the same grade.
- Austin: Separate Military Housing Area with its own rate. Use the DoD BAH Rate Lookup to compare.
For a detailed breakdown of what BAH buys near JBSA, Fort Hood, and other Texas installations, see the JBSA BAH rates and buying power guide and the Texas BAH budgeting guide. Use the full mortgage payment calculator to compare BAH against a real monthly payment including taxes, insurance, and any assessments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is first in the 2026 BAH rate table?
San Francisco CA, New York City, and Boston lead the 2026 BAH table for an E-5 with dependents. Rates vary by ZIP code and paygrade. Look up your rate at the DoD BAH Rate Lookup.
Do nearby locations have different BAH rates?
Nearby Military Housing Areas publish different rates for the same grade. San Francisco and Travis AFB are both in Northern California but fall under separate Military Housing Areas with different rates. San Diego and Camp Pendleton are adjacent areas with rates that differ slightly. Rates vary by ZIP code and paygrade.
How much does BAH vary across the country?
The E-5 with dependents BAH rate ranges widely across the national table, from one end of the table to the other. The annual spread covers thousands of dollars per year. Rates vary by ZIP code and paygrade. Use the DoD BAH Rate Lookup to compare areas.
What is the BAH rate at JBSA San Antonio?
JBSA San Antonio, Fort Hood, and Austin each fall under separate Military Housing Areas with different rates for the same grade. Rates vary by ZIP code and paygrade. Use the DoD BAH Rate Lookup to compare.
Does the GI Bill use the same BAH rate?
The Post-9/11 GI Bill pays a Monthly Housing Allowance that starts from the E-5 with dependents BAH rate for the location where the student physically attends the majority of classes, per VA.gov. VA prorates the amount by eligibility tier and rate of pursuit. Online-only students who started using benefits on or after January 1, 2018 receive a flat national rate that varies by year. The GI Bill rate year runs from August 1, 2026, to July 31, 2027.
Which Military Housing Area publishes the bottom BAH rate?
Anniston AL publishes the last E-5 with dependents rate in the national BAH table. Rates vary by ZIP code and paygrade. Use the DoD BAH Rate Lookup to compare areas.
What GI Bill housing rate do online-only students receive?
Online-only students who started using benefits on or after January 1, 2018 receive a flat national rate per VA.gov that varies by rate year. In-person students receive MHA starting from the E-5 with dependents BAH rate for the school location, subject to eligibility tier and rate of pursuit per VA.gov.
Should I compare BAH to rent or to a VA loan payment?
Compare both. If you are considering buying with a VA loan, compare your BAH to the full monthly payment including principal, interest, taxes, insurance, and any HOA or special district assessments. Use the full mortgage payment calculator to model your scenario. If you are renting, compare BAH to the lease amount plus average utilities.
How does San Diego BAH compare to Camp Pendleton?
San Diego and Camp Pendleton are adjacent Military Housing Areas in Southern California. Their E-5 with dependents rates differ only slightly. Rates vary by ZIP code and paygrade. Use the DoD BAH Rate Lookup to see exact figures.
What is the BAH rate at Fort Hood?
Fort Hood in the Killeen TX area, JBSA San Antonio, and Austin each fall under separate Military Housing Areas with different rates for the same grade. Rates vary by ZIP code and paygrade. Use the DoD BAH Rate Lookup to compare.
Data and Methodology
BAH rates in this guide are from DoD BAH rate data published through the VA.gov GI Bill Comparison Tool. The dod_bah field reports the E-5 with dependents BAH rate for each institution’s ZIP code, sourced from DTMO rate tables. All rates are for calendar year 2026. The table uses the E-5 with dependents rate because it is the field reported by the tool and the basis for the Post-9/11 GI Bill Monthly Housing Allowance. GI Bill rate data is from the VA Post-9/11 GI Bill rates page at VA.gov for the August 2026 to July 2027 rate year. This guide does not include OCONUS housing allowances, reserve-component transient rates, or BAH-DIFF. Rates were verified October 7, 2026.
