The Basic Allowance for Housing varies more than any other part of military pay. In 2026, an E-5 with dependents receives $5,127 a month in San Francisco and $1,185 in Anniston, Alabama. That is a gap of more than $47,000 a year for the same rank. Across the 299 named housing areas in the United States, the typical E-5 rate with dependents is $2,118.
All figures below are 2026 monthly rates for an E-5 with dependents, from the Defense Department rate files.
The 10 highest
| Housing area | E-5 with dependents | E-5 without | O-3 with dependents |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $5,127 | $4,086 | $5,556 |
| New York City, NY | $5,070 | $4,980 | $5,529 |
| Boston, MA | $4,791 | $3,615 | $5,163 |
| Northern New Jersey | $4,749 | $3,561 | $5,094 |
| Santa Clara County, CA | $4,659 | $3,798 | $5,199 |
| Westchester County, NY | $4,479 | $3,606 | $6,633 |
| Long Island, NY | $4,425 | $3,600 | $5,061 |
| Nantucket, MA | $4,344 | $3,798 | $5,442 |
| Maui County, HI | $4,329 | $3,246 | $5,571 |
| Hanscom AFB, MA | $4,188 | $3,516 | $4,770 |
Few large bases are on this list. Of the big fleet and troop concentrations, San Diego ranks highest at $3,975, just ahead of Camp Pendleton at $3,963. The Washington, DC metro area, home to the Pentagon and many staff jobs, pays $3,132.
The 10 lowest
| Housing area | E-5 with dependents | E-5 without |
|---|---|---|
| Anniston/Fort McClellan, AL | $1,185 | $1,119 |
| Youngstown, OH | $1,191 | $1,017 |
| Monroe, LA | $1,194 | $1,023 |
| Vance AFB/Enid, OK | $1,200 | $1,065 |
| Fort Polk, LA | $1,218 | $1,128 |
| Fort Sill/Lawton, OK | $1,233 | $1,092 |
| Altus AFB, OK | $1,254 | $1,032 |
| Fort Chaffee/Fort Smith, AR | $1,263 | $996 |
| Meridian, MS | $1,290 | $1,062 |
| Alexandria, LA | $1,290 | $1,161 |
How the big bases compare
| Base area | E-5 with dependents |
|---|---|
| Tacoma, WA (Joint Base Lewis-McChord) | $2,556 |
| Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA | $2,430 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $2,358 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $2,181 |
| San Antonio, TX | $1,869 |
| Fort Campbell, KY | $1,815 |
| El Paso, TX (Fort Bliss) | $1,809 |
| Fort Bragg/Pope, NC | $1,806 |
| Fort Hood, TX | $1,695 |
| Camp Lejeune, NC | $1,584 |
Higher BAH is not more money
BAH is meant to cover the cost of a typical home for your grade in that area, minus a small share you pay yourself. A $5,127 allowance in San Francisco buys roughly what $1,185 buys in Anniston. What you keep depends on the rent you actually pay. If you rent for less than your BAH, you keep the difference. If you rent for more, the extra comes out of your basic pay.
Where BAH can make a real difference is in areas where rents have risen since the survey, or where members find housing below the typical cost, such as with roommates or farther from base.
Look up your base
Find any duty station by ZIP code on the BAH lookup, or put two bases side by side with compare BAH before a move.