O-2 BAH Rates in San Diego, CA (2026)
The 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate for an O-2 (First Lieutenant (1LT)) stationed in San Diego, CA is $4,401 per month with dependents and $3,873 per month without dependents. This rate is $1,793 above the national average for O-2.
BAH is a tax-free housing allowance paid to service members who do not live in government housing. Combined with O-2 base pay of $6,484.5/mo (at 4 years of service) and BAS of $328.48/mo, total monthly compensation in San Diego is approximately $11,213.98 with dependents or $10,685.98 without.
O-2 BAH: San Diego vs National Average
| San Diego | National Avg | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| With Dependents | $4,401 | $2,608 | +$1,793 |
| Without Dependents | $3,873 | $2,243 | +$1,630 |
O-2 Total Monthly Compensation in San Diego
Here is how O-2 pay breaks down for a service member with 4 years of service stationed in San Diego:
| Component | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| Base Pay | $6,484.5 | $6,484.5 |
| BAH | $4,401 | $3,873 |
| BAS | $328.48 | $328.48 |
| Total | $11,213.98 | $10,685.98 |
Base pay shown for 4 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-1 — $4,032/mo
- O-3 — $4,518/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 BAH rate for O-2 in San Diego?
The 2026 O-2 BAH rate in San Diego is $4,401/mo with dependents and $3,873/mo without dependents.
What is the total monthly pay for O-2 in San Diego?
An O-2 with 4 years of service in San Diego earns approximately $11,213.98/mo total compensation with dependents (base pay $6,484.5 + BAH $4,401 + BAS $328.48). Without dependents: $10,685.98/mo.
Is San Diego BAH above or below average?
O-2 BAH in San Diego is $1,793 above the national average of $2,608/mo with dependents.
O-2 BAH in San Diego, CA, in context
An O-2 with dependents in San Diego, CA draws $4,401/mo — 68.8% above the national average of $2,608 for this grade (12th of 299 MHAs). Without dependents the rate is $3,873/mo, a $528 difference.
Promotion changes housing money here: pinning on O-3 raises BAH in this MHA by $117/mo (to $4,518), on top of the base-pay increase.
Computed from the official 2026 BAH rate file across all 299 market-priced MHAs.