Texas BAH Calculator

Estimate BAH for Texas duty stations using a medium-cost CONUS profile. Texas hosts 15 major military installations including Fort Cavazos (formerly Hood), Fort Bliss, Joint Base San Antonio (Lackland, Randolph, and Fort Sam Houston), NAS Corpus Christi, and NAS Fort Worth JRB. With no state income tax and moderate housing costs, Texas offers one of the best BAH-to-cost-of-living ratios in the country. Use this calculator for PCS planning and off-base housing budgets at any Texas base.

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Formula

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Core Formula
Monthly BAH = rate table lookup for medium-cost profile

How it works: Texas bases generally fall in the medium-cost CONUS range. This profile provides planning estimates by looking up DoD-style BAH rates based on pay grade and dependent status, reflecting typical Texas housing markets in the $1,200 to $2,400 per month range for enlisted grades.

Worked Example

An E-6 with dependents at a Texas duty station receives an estimated monthly BAH of roughly $1,800 to $2,100, totaling approximately $21,600 to $25,200 per year. An O-3 with dependents might see monthly BAH near $2,200 to $2,600. Without dependents, an E-6 would receive roughly $1,400 to $1,700 per month. Combined with zero state income tax, this often covers rent and utilities comfortably.

BAH at Texas Military Installations

Texas is one of the most popular states for military families due to moderate housing costs, no state income tax, and a large number of major installations across the state. With 15 bases and over 200,000 active-duty personnel, Texas has the second-largest military population of any state.

  • Fort Cavazos (formerly Fort Hood) near Killeen is one of the largest Army installations in the world, with BAH rates reflecting the affordable Central Texas housing market
  • Fort Bliss in El Paso offers some of the lowest BAH rates among major Texas bases, but housing costs are proportionally very affordable
  • Joint Base San Antonio combines Lackland AFB, Randolph AFB, and Fort Sam Houston, with BAH reflecting the San Antonio metro housing market
  • No Texas state income tax means BAH (which is also non-taxable federal) stretches further than in states with income taxes. An E-6 saves roughly $150 to $300 per month compared to California
  • Texas BAH rates are generally lower than California or Hawaii but higher than many rural Southeast bases, and the cost-of-living ratio is among the best nationally

Many service members find Texas offers one of the best BAH-to-cost-of-living ratios in the country, especially when factoring in no state income tax. Most families can find comfortable housing within their BAH at any Texas installation.

You can also calculate changes using our BAH Calculator, BAH by ZIP Code Calculator, California BAH Calculator or Fort Bragg BAH Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Texas BAH rates vary by base?

Yes. Each base falls within a Military Housing Area (MHA) with its own rate. San Antonio, El Paso, and Killeen area rates can differ by $200 to $500 per month at the same pay grade, despite all being in Texas.

Does dependent status increase BAH?

Yes. With-dependents rates are typically 20% to 40% higher than without-dependents for the same grade and location. For example, an E-5 at Fort Cavazos might see a $400 to $600 per month increase when adding dependents.

Does Texas no income tax affect BAH value?

BAH itself is non-taxable at the federal level. But having no state income tax means your overall take-home pay (including taxable base pay) is higher in Texas. An E-6 saves roughly $150 to $300 per month in state taxes compared to California or Virginia.

Is Fort Hood now Fort Cavazos?

Yes. Fort Hood was renamed Fort Cavazos in 2023 as part of the Army naming commission. BAH rates for the Killeen-Temple area MHA remain the same regardless of the installation name change.

Which Texas base has the most affordable housing relative to BAH?

Fort Bliss in El Paso and Fort Cavazos in the Killeen area generally offer the best BAH-to-rent ratios. Many enlisted families at these bases find housing below their BAH rate and pocket the difference. JBSA in San Antonio is slightly more expensive but still very manageable.

How does Texas BAH compare to California BAH?

California BAH is typically 40% to 70% higher than Texas BAH at the same pay grade. However, Texas housing costs are proportionally even lower, and the absence of state income tax means Texas service members often have more disposable income despite lower BAH rates.

How can I put this Texas BAH Calculator on my blog or website?

Yes, the Texas BAH Calculator is fully embeddable. Tap "Embed" above to configure appearance and copy the code. It is free to use, works on any platform (HTML, WordPress, CMS), and adjusts to any screen size automatically. Visit calculory.com/services/embed-calculators for the complete guide.

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