Hawaii and Alaska are part of the US BAH system, so members stationed there receive the Basic Allowance for Housing like anywhere else in the country. Rates in both states are well above the national middle of $2,118 for an E-5 with dependents. Members there also receive a separate cost-of-living allowance, which BAH does not include.
Hawaii
| Housing area | E-1 with dependents | E-5 with | E-5 without | E-7 with | O-3 with | O-3 without |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu County (Oahu) | $3,333 | $3,663 | $2,856 | $4,098 | $4,428 | $3,819 |
| Maui County | $3,819 | $4,329 | $3,246 | $5,067 | $5,571 | $4,608 |
| Kauai County | $3,588 | $3,798 | $3,162 | $4,410 | $4,662 | $4,095 |
| Hawaii County (Big Island) | $3,447 | $3,594 | $3,042 | $3,876 | $3,945 | $3,744 |
Most members in Hawaii are stationed on Oahu, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Schofield Barracks, Marine Corps Base Hawaii and nearby commands, all in the Honolulu County housing area. Maui pays more but has few military billets.
A notable feature of Oahu’s rates is how close the junior and mid-grade rates are. An E-1 with dependents receives $3,333, only $330 less than an E-5. That reflects how expensive even small family homes are on the island.
Alaska
| Housing area | E-1 with dependents | E-5 with | E-5 without | E-7 with | O-3 with | O-3 without |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $2,277 | $2,874 | $2,157 | $3,045 | $3,360 | $2,643 |
| Fairbanks | $2,106 | $2,436 | $1,827 | $2,610 | $2,937 | $2,301 |
| Juneau | $2,580 | $3,354 | $2,517 | $3,432 | $3,594 | $3,060 |
| Kodiak Island | $2,436 | $2,865 | $2,148 | $2,970 | $3,174 | $2,694 |
| Ketchikan | $2,646 | $2,868 | $2,151 | $3,027 | $3,327 | $2,772 |
| Sitka | $2,355 | $3,210 | $2,409 | $3,294 | $3,462 | $2,886 |
Anchorage covers Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Fairbanks covers Fort Wainwright and Eielson Air Force Base. Juneau, Kodiak, Ketchikan and Sitka are mainly Coast Guard locations.
Utility costs are part of the BAH survey, which is one reason Alaska rates are higher than rents alone would suggest. Heating a home through a Fairbanks winter costs far more than in most of the lower 48.
Cost-of-living allowance
Unlike most of the country, Hawaii and Alaska qualify for a cost-of-living allowance paid on top of BAH, to cover higher prices for everyday goods. It varies by location, rank, years of service and number of dependents, and it is tax-free like BAH. It is reviewed during the year, so check the current amount with your finance office before you arrive.
Moving to Hawaii or Alaska
Use the BAH lookup with the ZIP code of your new duty station, and put your current and next base side by side with compare BAH. Remember that BAH alone will look high compared with a mainland base, but groceries, shipping and travel home also cost more.