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Duty Station BAH Comparison 2027

PCS orders in hand? Compare your exact BAH at two duty stations side by side — same grade, same dependent status.

✓ Side-by-side comparison✓ Same grade, same status✓ Private — runs in your browser✓ 100% free

Compare two stations

Comparison result

Station A
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Station B
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✓ Official data: DTMO 2026 BAH tables · Last verified Oct 10, 2026 · Same grade and dependent status at both stations for a fair comparison.

Why compare duty stations before you PCS

Your BAH resets to your new area’s published rate the day you PCS — and the gap between stations can be thousands of dollars a month. Comparing first means you sign your next lease with the real number in hand instead of discovering it on your LES.

BAH comparison infographic: Fort Hood Texas $1,695 per month versus San Diego California $3,975 per month for E-5 with dependents, a $2,280 monthly difference

Real example: an E-5 with dependents PCSing from Fort Hood ($1,695/month) to San Diego ($3,975/month) gains $2,280/month — that’s $27,360 a year in tax-free housing money. Going the other direction, you’d need to know your budget is shrinking before you house-hunt.

Biggest BAH gaps between popular stations

E-5 with dependents, official 2026 tables — the moves where BAH changes the most:

The moveFromToMonthly change
Fort Hood, TX → San Diego, CA$1,695$3,975+$2,280
Tacoma, WA → San Francisco, CA$2,556$5,127+$2,571
Norfolk, VA → San Diego, CA$2,430$3,975+$1,545
San Antonio, TX → Washington DC$1,869$3,132+$1,263

Every pairing is computed from the same official DTMO 2026 tables this site’s calculators use.

How to use this comparison

  1. Enter both duty-station ZIPs — BAH follows your duty location, not where you rent.
  2. Pick your grade and dependent status — the same status for both sides keeps it apples-to-apples.
  3. Read the gap, then budget — the difference is your monthly swing. Subtract ~5% out-of-pocket and set your rent target.
Three PCS move BAH tips: compare BAH before signing a lease, remember BAH resets to the new area rate on PCS, and budget for the 5 percent out-of-pocket cost

PCS and BAH: the rules that matter

SituationWhat happens to your BAH
You PCS to a higher-cost areaYour BAH increases to the new area’s published rate.
You PCS to a lower-cost areaYour BAH decreases to the new area’s rate — rate protection doesn’t carry over to a new station.
Your area’s published rate drops while you stayYour personal rate is protected — it can’t go down.
You get promotedYour BAH moves up to your new grade’s rate for your area.
New annual rates publish (Jan 1)Everyone moves to the new tables — increases apply; decreases can’t touch protected members.

Your PCS BAH Timeline: When Rates Actually Change

One of the most confusing parts of PCSing is timing. Your BAH doesn't change when you get orders, when you pack, or when you drive away. Here's exactly how it works.

The report-date rule

Your BAH switches to the new station's rate on the day you sign in — not the day you leave your old station. If you report on June 10, your June BAH is prorated: 10 days at the old rate, 20 days at the new rate. DFAS typically reflects the change within 1-2 weeks, appearing in your next pay period.

TLE bridges the gap

For CONUS moves, Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) covers up to 10 days of hotel and meals while you're between homes. This bridges the awkward period when you've left your old place but haven't secured the new one. It doesn't replace BAH — it's a separate reimbursement you claim with receipts.

What if one station is overseas?

Here's where it gets tricky. If you're PCSing from CONUS to OCONUS, you switch from BAH to OHA (Overseas Housing Allowance). Unlike BAH, OHA reimburses your actual rent up to a ceiling — you don't keep the difference if you rent cheap. And if you're on an unaccompanied overseas tour, you may still get BAH at the with-dependent rate based on where your family lives in the US. Run the CONUS side through the comparison tool; for OCONUS, check the OHA tables separately.

Your Full PCS Budget: BAH + DLA Combined

Most people only think about the monthly BAH change. But a PCS also comes with a one-time Dislocation Allowance (DLA) — and combining the two gives you the real financial picture.

How much DLA you'll get

For 2026, an E-5 with dependents receives $3,548.02 in DLA — a lump sum paid once per fiscal year to offset moving costs. It's not meant to cover everything, but it takes the sting out of deposits, utility hookups, and all the small expenses that add up.

Putting it together: a real example

Say you're an E-5 with dependents PCSing from Fort Hood ($1,695/mo BAH) to San Diego ($3,975/mo BAH). Your monthly housing budget jumps $2,280 — that's $27,360 more per year. Add the $3,548 DLA lump sum, and your first year at San Diego means roughly $30,908 more in housing-related money than Fort Hood. That's the number to plan around, not just the monthly rate.

2027 Duty Station Comparison: Looking Ahead

Planning a PCS for next year? No other site is doing this: I'm projecting 2027 BAH for both stations side by side, using the DoD's 4.2% planning figure from the FY2027 budget request.

How the 2027 projection works for comparisons

Take both stations' 2026 rates and multiply by 1.042. San Diego's $3,975 becomes roughly $4,142. Fort Liberty's $1,806 becomes roughly $1,882. The gap stays proportional — about $2,260 per month in 2027 dollars. I label every projected figure clearly, and I'll swap in the official December tables the day they publish.

Duty-station BAH questions, answered

Does my BAH change when I PCS?

Yes. BAH is tied to your duty station’s Military Housing Area, so a PCS resets your rate to the new location’s published table — effective with your move, per your orders.

What if the new station’s BAH is lower than my old one?

Then your BAH goes down to the new area’s rate. Rate protection only shields you from published-rate decreases while you stay in the same area — it doesn’t transfer to a new station.

Can my BAH drop if I don’t move?

No. If the published rate for your area falls while you’re still stationed there, your personal rate is protected and stays put.

Which ZIP codes should I compare?

Your current and future duty-station ZIPs — BAH follows the duty location, not the neighborhood you rent in.

Does this comparison include 2027 projections?

This tool compares official 2026 rates. For 2027 planning scenarios, use the projection toggle on the main BAH calculator.

What if one station is in an OHA area?

Some ZIPs — mostly overseas and certain territories — have no BAH table and fall under OHA instead. The calculator will flag them.

Should I compare with or without dependents?

Use your actual dependent status — the gap between stations can differ between the two rate columns.

Does BAH cover my full rent?

BAH is designed to cover about 95% of typical housing costs. Plan on roughly 5% out-of-pocket — the DoD estimated $93 to $212/month in 2026.

How accurate is this comparison?

Both sides come from the official DTMO 2026 BAH tables, mapped across 40,959 ZIP codes — the same data behind the DoD’s own lookup.

When do the new annual rates take effect?

January 1 each year. The 2027 tables are expected mid-December 2026 and take effect January 1, 2027.

Compare before you sign

Two ZIPs, one grade, zero surprises on move day.

Need your exact single-station rate? Use the main BAH calculator.