What stood out to me about Vandenberg is how fast its BAH is climbing: an E-5 with dependents now gets ,333/month, up 4.4% from 2025. Space Force families PCSing to the Central Coast should run these exact numbers before signing a lease. Full table below.
2026 BAH rates: Vandenberg SFB, CA
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E1 | $3,156 | $2,397 |
| E2 | $3,156 | $2,397 |
| E3 | $3,156 | $2,397 |
| E4 | $3,156 | $2,397 |
| E5 | $3,333 | $2,778 |
| E6 | $3,642 | $2,994 |
| E7 | $3,693 | $3,162 |
| E8 | $3,747 | $3,399 |
| E9 | $3,873 | $3,486 |
| W1 | $3,660 | $3,105 |
| W2 | $3,714 | $3,396 |
| W3 | $3,783 | $3,498 |
| W4 | $3,906 | $3,648 |
| W5 | $4,065 | $3,702 |
| O1E | $3,699 | $3,330 |
| O2E | $3,771 | $3,465 |
| O3E | $3,933 | $3,633 |
| O1 | $3,378 | $2,979 |
| O2 | $3,639 | $3,276 |
| O3 | $3,780 | $3,528 |
| O4 | $4,113 | $3,687 |
| O5 | $4,356 | $3,711 |
| O6 | $4,392 | $3,759 |
| O7 | $4,425 | $3,828 |
| O8 | $4,425 | $3,828 |
| O9 | $4,425 | $3,828 |
| O10 | $4,425 | $3,828 |
Notes
- O-8, O-9 and O-10 are paid at the O-7 rate, per DTMO tables.
- BAH is tax-free and rate-protected: your rate cannot drop while you stay in the same area.
- Use the BAH Calculator 2027 for an exact figure by ZIP code, or try the duty-station comparison before a PCS.