The monthly Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for Chicago, IL — Military Housing Area IL325 in Illinois — is shown below for every pay grade, with and without dependents. These are the official 2026 DTMO rates; an E-5 with dependents receives $3,438/month here. 2027 figures are projections until the DoD publishes official 2027 rates in December 2026.
2026 BAH rates: Chicago, IL
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E1 | $3,174 | $2,415 |
| E2 | $3,174 | $2,415 |
| E3 | $3,174 | $2,415 |
| E4 | $3,174 | $2,415 |
| E5 | $3,438 | $2,736 |
| E6 | $3,702 | $2,937 |
| E7 | $3,723 | $3,186 |
| E8 | $3,732 | $3,498 |
| E9 | $3,771 | $3,567 |
| W1 | $3,720 | $3,090 |
| W2 | $3,729 | $3,495 |
| W3 | $3,741 | $3,579 |
| W4 | $3,795 | $3,696 |
| W5 | $3,900 | $3,708 |
| O1E | $3,726 | $3,435 |
| O2E | $3,735 | $3,552 |
| O3E | $3,810 | $3,693 |
| O1 | $3,477 | $2,907 |
| O2 | $3,699 | $3,354 |
| O3 | $3,738 | $3,603 |
| O4 | $3,927 | $3,699 |
| O5 | $4,086 | $3,711 |
| O6 | $4,122 | $3,714 |
| O7 | $4,152 | $3,756 |
| O8 | $4,152 | $3,756 |
| O9 | $4,152 | $3,756 |
| O10 | $4,152 | $3,756 |
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.