The monthly Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for El Centro, CA — Military Housing Area CA420 in California — is shown below for every pay grade, with and without dependents. These are the official 2026 DTMO rates; an E-5 with dependents receives $1,986/month here. 2027 figures are projections until the DoD publishes official 2027 rates in December 2026.
2026 BAH rates: El Centro, CA
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E1 | $1,905 | $1,500 |
| E2 | $1,905 | $1,500 |
| E3 | $1,905 | $1,500 |
| E4 | $1,905 | $1,500 |
| E5 | $1,986 | $1,704 |
| E6 | $2,151 | $1,824 |
| E7 | $2,334 | $1,905 |
| E8 | $2,541 | $2,025 |
| E9 | $2,721 | $2,061 |
| W1 | $2,166 | $1,890 |
| W2 | $2,418 | $2,022 |
| W3 | $2,673 | $2,070 |
| W4 | $2,739 | $2,187 |
| W5 | $2,823 | $2,382 |
| O1E | $2,373 | $1,983 |
| O2E | $2,634 | $2,052 |
| O3E | $2,751 | $2,139 |
| O1 | $2,013 | $1,818 |
| O2 | $2,148 | $1,962 |
| O3 | $2,664 | $2,085 |
| O4 | $2,847 | $2,346 |
| O5 | $2,976 | $2,460 |
| O6 | $2,997 | $2,652 |
| O7 | $3,018 | $2,697 |
| O8 | $3,018 | $2,697 |
| O9 | $3,018 | $2,697 |
| O10 | $3,018 | $2,697 |
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.