What BAH is
Basic allowance for housing (BAH) is a monthly payment that helps service members cover housing costs. It is paid on top of basic pay, and it is listed as its own line on the Leave and Earnings Statement (LES). BAH is generally not subject to federal income tax.
BAH does not depend on your branch. Two members in the same grade, with the same dependency status, at the same duty location receive the same BAH.
Three inputs set the rate
- Pay grade. Higher grades receive higher rates in the same area.
- Dependency status. Members with dependents receive a higher rate than members without, in the same grade and area.
- Housing area (MHA). The Department of Defense divides the country into military housing areas. Each area has a code, such as VA298 for Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA. The DTMO lookup accepts a ZIP code and matches it to a housing area.
How the rate is set
DTMO sets each area’s rate from local housing costs, including median rent, utilities, and renter’s insurance. The rate is an average for the area and grade. It is not a reimbursement of the rent you actually pay. DTMO’s BAH program page explains the method in more detail.
Worked example: Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA
The 2025 DTMO file lists monthly BAH for NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH, VA (VA298). The rates below are copied from that file.
| Grade | With dependents | Without dependents | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-5 | $2,325 | $1,869 | $456 |
| O-3 | $2,574 | $2,412 | $162 |
Monthly dollars, 2025 DTMO rates. Figures are not 2026 rates.
Rate protection
BAH rates can go down from one year to the next. If the rate for your area falls while you stay in the same housing area with the same dependency status, DTMO rate protection keeps your higher rate. A change in area or dependency status ends that protection, and the new rate applies.
BAH is not your rent
BAH is a fixed monthly amount set by area, grade, and dependency status. If your rent is lower than BAH, you keep the difference. If your rent is higher, you pay the difference. Members who live in government quarters do not receive BAH.
BAH, BAS, and OHA
- BAS (basic allowance for subsistence) covers meals. It is paid to enlisted members, not officers.
- OHA (overseas housing allowance) applies to overseas assignments. It is set separately from BAH and is not covered by the BAH calculator.
Where the rates come from
BAH rates are published by the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO). This site uses the 2025 DTMO file for all locations and pay grades, so you can compare housing areas on the BAH calculator.