The money you get for a PCS move
A permanent change of station move inside the continental US comes with three main payments. All of them are tax-free.
| Payment | What it is for | How much |
|---|---|---|
| Dislocation allowance (DLA) | The costs of breaking down one home and setting up another: deposits, utility hookups, cleaning | A flat amount by grade and dependency status, shown below |
| Mileage (MALT) | Driving your car to the new duty station | 23.5 cents a mile for each authorized car, from July 1, 2026 |
| Per diem | Meals and lodging on each travel day | $181 a day for you, 75% for each dependent 12 or older and 50% for each child under 12 |
Travel days are set by distance, not by how long the drive actually takes: one day for the first 400 miles, then one day for every 350 miles, plus one more if 51 or more miles are left over. A 1,200-mile move gets four travel days.
2026 dislocation allowance rates
| Grade | Without dependents | With dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,870.58 | $3,548.02 |
| E-2 | $2,025.26 | $3,548.02 |
| E-3 | $2,355.48 | $3,548.02 |
| E-4 | $2,389.42 | $3,548.02 |
| E-5 | $2,389.42 | $3,548.02 |
| E-6 | $2,389.42 | $3,548.02 |
| E-7 | $2,468.19 | $3,551.31 |
| E-8 | $2,888.97 | $3,824.94 |
| E-9 | $3,147.54 | $4,149.51 |
| W-1 | $2,394.55 | $3,151.31 |
| W-2 | $2,860.70 | $3,643.75 |
| W-3 | $3,221.08 | $3,960.78 |
| W-4 | $3,832.45 | $4,323.11 |
| W-5 | $4,315.51 | $4,715.58 |
| O-1 | $2,273.82 | $3,085.23 |
| O-2 | $2,700.31 | $3,451.28 |
| O-3 | $3,404.11 | $4,041.88 |
| O-4 | $4,247.61 | $4,885.43 |
| O-5 | $4,583.51 | $5,542.06 |
| O-6 | $4,758.96 | $5,749.63 |
| O-7 | $5,187.33 | $6,385.58 |
| O-1E | $2,687.09 | $3,621.10 |
| O-2E | $3,124.87 | $3,919.27 |
| O-3E | $3,675.83 | $4,343.80 |
Members without dependents do not receive DLA if they are assigned to government quarters at the new duty station. DLA is not paid for a first move from home to your first duty station if you have no dependents, or for a final move on separation or retirement.
Example
An E-5 moving 1,200 miles with a spouse and one child under 12, in one car, receives a DLA of $3,548.02, mileage of $282.00 and four days of per diem: $724 for the member, $543 for the spouse and $362 for the child. That comes to $5,459.02.
What is not in this estimate
Your household goods. The government either moves your belongings for you or, in a personally procured move (PPM, once called a DITY move), pays you up to 100% of what it would have cost the government to move them. A PPM payment can be several thousand dollars, but it depends on the weight you move and the distance, and it is taxable after expenses. Your transportation office gives you the estimate.
Temporary lodging. Temporary lodging expense (TLE) helps with hotel costs for up to 14 days near the old or new duty station while you look for housing.
Advance pay. You can ask for up to three months of basic pay in advance to cover moving costs, repaid from later paychecks.
Common questions
When is DLA paid? You can ask for it in advance, before you move, or receive it when you settle your travel claim at the new duty station.
Does BAH change too? Yes, on the day you report to the new duty station. See what happens to your BAH when you PCS, or compare BAH at the two bases.
What if I fly instead of driving? The government usually buys the tickets through its travel office, and per diem is paid for the travel time. This calculator assumes you drive.
