O-1 BAH Rates in San Diego, CA (2026)
The 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate for an O-1 (Second Lieutenant (2LT)) stationed in San Diego, CA is $4,032 per month with dependents and $3,351 per month without dependents. This rate is $1,697 above the national average for O-1.
BAH is a tax-free housing allowance paid to service members who do not live in government housing. Combined with O-1 base pay of $4,320/mo (at 2 years of service) and BAS of $328.48/mo, total monthly compensation in San Diego is approximately $8,680.48 with dependents or $7,999.48 without.
O-1 BAH: San Diego vs National Average
| San Diego | National Avg | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| With Dependents | $4,032 | $2,335 | +$1,697 |
| Without Dependents | $3,351 | $1,975 | +$1,376 |
O-1 Total Monthly Compensation in San Diego
Here is how O-1 pay breaks down for a service member with 2 years of service stationed in San Diego:
| Component | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| Base Pay | $4,320 | $4,320 |
| BAH | $4,032 | $3,351 |
| BAS | $328.48 | $328.48 |
| Total | $8,680.48 | $7,999.48 |
Base pay shown for 2 years of service. BAH and BAS are tax-free. Actual take-home pay will differ after federal tax on base pay. Use our Military Pay Calculator for a personalized estimate.
Other Ranks in San Diego
- E-3 — $3,666/mo
- E-4 — $3,666/mo
- E-5 — $3,975/mo
- E-6 — $4,404/mo
- E-7 — $4,446/mo
- O-2 — $4,401/mo
- O-3 — $4,518/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 BAH rate for O-1 in San Diego?
The 2026 O-1 BAH rate in San Diego is $4,032/mo with dependents and $3,351/mo without dependents.
What is the total monthly pay for O-1 in San Diego?
An O-1 with 2 years of service in San Diego earns approximately $8,680.48/mo total compensation with dependents (base pay $4,320 + BAH $4,032 + BAS $328.48). Without dependents: $7,999.48/mo.
Is San Diego BAH above or below average?
O-1 BAH in San Diego is $1,697 above the national average of $2,335/mo with dependents.
O-1 BAH in San Diego, CA, in context
An O-1 with dependents in San Diego, CA draws $4,032/mo — 72.7% above the national average of $2,335 for this grade (12th of 299 MHAs). Without dependents the rate is $3,351/mo, a $681 difference.
Promotion changes housing money here: pinning on O-2 raises BAH in this MHA by $369/mo (to $4,401), on top of the base-pay increase.
Computed from the official 2026 BAH rate file across all 299 market-priced MHAs.