Updated February 2026

BAH Rates Cost Group 540 2026 — Basic Allowance for Housing

Monthly Basic Allowance for Housing rates for the Cost Group 540 military housing area (MHA: ZZ540), effective January 1, 2026. Use the BAH calculator to estimate your total housing allowance.

Find BAH Rates by ZIP Code

E-5 with Dependents

$1,344

$16,128/year

E-5 without Dependents

$1,086

$13,032/year

O-3 with Dependents

$1,827

$21,924/year

Pay Grade	Monthly Rate	Annual Rate
Enlisted
E-1	$1,242	$14,904
E-2	$1,242	$14,904
E-3	$1,242	$14,904
E-4	$1,242	$14,904
E-5	$1,344	$16,128
E-6	$1,641	$19,692
E-7	$1,707	$20,484
E-8	$1,782	$21,384
E-9	$1,890	$22,680
Warrant Officer
W-1	$1,659	$19,908
W-2	$1,737	$20,844
W-3	$1,830	$21,960
W-4	$1,911	$22,932
W-5	$2,016	$24,192
Commissioned Officer (Prior Enlisted)
O-1E	$1,719	$20,628
O-2E	$1,815	$21,780
O-3E	$1,926	$23,112
Commissioned Officer
O-1	$1,386	$16,632
O-2	$1,638	$19,656
O-3	$1,827	$21,924
O-4	$2,046	$24,552
O-5	$2,205	$26,460
O-6	$2,220	$26,640
O-7	$2,232	$26,784

Pay Grade	Monthly Rate	Annual Rate
Enlisted
E-1	$1,005	$12,060
E-2	$1,005	$12,060
E-3	$1,005	$12,060
E-4	$1,005	$12,060
E-5	$1,086	$13,032
E-6	$1,230	$14,760
E-7	$1,281	$15,372
E-8	$1,407	$16,884
E-9	$1,488	$17,856
Warrant Officer
W-1	$1,245	$14,940
W-2	$1,404	$16,848
W-3	$1,503	$18,036
W-4	$1,650	$19,800
W-5	$1,722	$20,664
Commissioned Officer (Prior Enlisted)
O-1E	$1,341	$16,092
O-2E	$1,470	$17,640
O-3E	$1,632	$19,584
Commissioned Officer
O-1	$1,140	$13,680
O-2	$1,314	$15,768
O-3	$1,530	$18,360
O-4	$1,704	$20,448
O-5	$1,740	$20,880
O-6	$1,806	$21,672
O-7	$1,836	$22,032

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the BAH rate for an E-5 in Cost Group 540?

The 2026 BAH rate for an E-5 with dependents in Cost Group 540 is $1,344 per month ($16,128 per year). Without dependents, the rate is $1,086 per month.

How many ZIP codes are in the Cost Group 540 MHA?

The Cost Group 540 Military Housing Area code is ZZ540.

What is BAH and how is it calculated?

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a U.S. military benefit that provides service members with housing compensation based on their duty station location, pay grade, and dependency status. Rates are set annually by the Department of Defense based on local rental market data.

Data Sources

Defense Travel Management Office — BAH Rates
Rates effective January 1, 2026

Last verified: February 2026

What's Next?

Calculate Total Pay See your full compensation: Base Pay + BAH + BAS Calculate → Take-Home Pay Calculate net pay after taxes and deductions Calculate → GI Bill Benefits BAH determines your GI Bill housing allowance Calculate →

Popular BAH Locations

San Diego, CA$3,975 Norfolk, VA$2,430 San Antonio, TX$1,869 Fort Bragg, NC$1,806 Colorado Springs, CO$2,358 Jacksonville, FL$2,181 Honolulu, HI$3,663 Tacoma, WA$2,556