Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval station, anchors this MHA alongside the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard across the water. With tens of thousands of sailors and families competing for off-base housing, Hampton Roads BAH rates sit firmly in the upper tier nationally. An E-5 with dependents receives $2,430/month in this area. The full official table for Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA (MHA VA298) is below — every pay grade, with and without dependents, from 2026 DTMO rates, with 2027 projections marked where shown.
2026 BAH rates: Norfolk/Portsmouth, VA
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E1 | $2,229 | $1,707 |
| E2 | $2,229 | $1,707 |
| E3 | $2,229 | $1,707 |
| E4 | $2,229 | $1,707 |
| E5 | $2,430 | $1,908 |
| E6 | $2,559 | $2,043 |
| E7 | $2,604 | $2,235 |
| E8 | $2,661 | $2,463 |
| E9 | $2,796 | $2,487 |
| W1 | $2,574 | $2,166 |
| W2 | $2,628 | $2,460 |
| W3 | $2,697 | $2,496 |
| W4 | $2,832 | $2,562 |
| W5 | $3,000 | $2,616 |
| O1E | $2,613 | $2,427 |
| O2E | $2,685 | $2,481 |
| O3E | $2,859 | $2,547 |
| O1 | $2,454 | $2,022 |
| O2 | $2,556 | $2,367 |
| O3 | $2,694 | $2,505 |
| O4 | $3,054 | $2,601 |
| O5 | $3,318 | $2,625 |
| O6 | $3,342 | $2,673 |
| O7 | $3,366 | $2,718 |
| O8 | $3,366 | $2,718 |
| O9 | $3,366 | $2,718 |
| O10 | $3,366 | $2,718 |
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.