BAH by ZIP Code Calculator

ZIP codes map to Military Housing Areas (MHAs) based on local rental costs. The DoD surveys roughly 300 MHAs annually. For example, ZIP 92101 (San Diego) maps to a high-cost area where an E-5 with dependents might receive over $3,000/month, while ZIP 66442 (Fort Riley) maps to a low-cost area at roughly $1,200/month.

This ZIP mapping covers CONUS locations only. Service members stationed overseas receive Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) instead of BAH, which is calculated differently based on actual rent costs up to a locality cap. Use the Defense Travel Management Office for OHA rates.

Within each location, BAH increases with rank. For example, in a medium-cost ZIP code, an E-3 might receive $1,200/month while an E-7 receives $1,900/month and an O-4 receives $2,400/month. Higher grades reflect expected housing standards.

Not necessarily. ZIP code boundaries can cross MHA lines, and housing costs can vary significantly between adjacent areas. For example, ZIP codes near the Washington D.C. and Virginia border can fall into different MHAs with rate differences of $200 to $400/month.

BAH rates are recalculated annually, effective January 1. Rates are recalculated annually based on local rental market trends. Individual locations may see increases or decreases depending on housing cost changes.

The highest BAH rates are typically found in San Francisco (ZIP 941xx), New York City (ZIP 100xx), Honolulu (ZIP 968xx), and Washington D.C. metro (ZIP 200xx-220xx) areas. An O-5 with dependents in these locations can receive over $4,500/month.

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