O-3 BAH Rates in San Diego, CA (2026)
The 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rate for an O-3 (Captain (CPT)) stationed in San Diego, CA is $4,518 per month with dependents and $4,248 per month without dependents. This rate is $1,659 above the national average for O-3.
BAH is a tax-free housing allowance paid to service members who do not live in government housing. Combined with O-3 base pay of $7,737/mo (at 6 years of service) and BAS of $328.48/mo, total monthly compensation in San Diego is approximately $12,583.48 with dependents or $12,313.48 without.
O-3 BAH: San Diego vs National Average
| San Diego | National Avg | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| With Dependents | $4,518 | $2,859 | +$1,659 |
| Without Dependents | $4,248 | $2,493 | +$1,755 |
O-3 Total Monthly Compensation in San Diego
Here is how O-3 pay breaks down for a service member with 6 years of service stationed in San Diego:
| Component | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| Base Pay | $7,737 | $7,737 |
| BAH | $4,518 | $4,248 |
| BAS | $328.48 | $328.48 |
| Total | $12,583.48 | $12,313.48 |
Base pay shown for 6 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-2 — $4,401/mo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 BAH rate for O-3 in San Diego?
The 2026 O-3 BAH rate in San Diego is $4,518/mo with dependents and $4,248/mo without dependents.
What is the total monthly pay for O-3 in San Diego?
An O-3 with 6 years of service in San Diego earns approximately $12,583.48/mo total compensation with dependents (base pay $7,737 + BAH $4,518 + BAS $328.48). Without dependents: $12,313.48/mo.
Is San Diego BAH above or below average?
O-3 BAH in San Diego is $1,659 above the national average of $2,859/mo with dependents.
O-3 BAH in San Diego, CA, in context
An O-3 with dependents in San Diego, CA draws $4,518/mo — 58% above the national average of $2,859 for this grade (19th of 299 MHAs). Without dependents the rate is $4,248/mo, a $270 difference.
Promotion changes housing money here: pinning on O-4 raises BAH in this MHA by $564/mo (to $5,082), on top of the base-pay increase.
Computed from the official 2026 BAH rate file across all 299 market-priced MHAs.