GI BILL · ESTIMATES
GI Bill housing allowance: your 2026-27 rate by ZIP
Updated October 30, 2026 · By Larry Cannon · How we check facts
NOT A GOVERNMENT WEBSITEEducational information only, not official advice. StandWatch is independent and does not act for any agency. For any decision, the official source is the final authority: VA and your school certifying official. Full disclosures
Estimate your housing allowance
Use the ZIP of the campus where you attend most of your classes.
ESTIMATED MONTHLY HOUSING ALLOWANCE
Straight talk: this is an estimate for August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027. VA sets what you are paid, and it pays at the end of each month.
The short answer: VA starts with the BAH rate for an E-5 with dependents at the ZIP where you attend most of your classes. For August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027, it uses the 2026 BAH rates. It then scales that by your benefit level and your rate of pursuit. Online-only students get up to $1,198 a month, and foreign school students up to $2,396.
How VA figures it
- The formula. The rate for your area, times your benefit level, times your rate of pursuit.
- Benefit level. Your eligibility tier, from 50% to 100%, based mostly on how long you served on active duty. Your Statement of Benefits shows it.
- Rate of pursuit. Your credits divided by full time at your school, rounded to the nearest tenth. VA's example: 9 credits where 12 is full time is 80%. It must be more than 50%.
- One class in person. VA says at least 1 in-person class alongside online classes may qualify you for the higher resident rate.
Who does not get it
VA says you are not eligible for a housing allowance payment if any of these are true:
- You are on active duty
- You are a spouse using transferred benefits while the Veteran is on active duty
- You are in school half time or less
- You are taking correspondence training or flight training
- You are on break from school
Every area, at 100% and full time
The 2026 BAH rate for an E-5 with dependents in all 338 Military Housing Areas. This is the most VA would pay at that location.
THE FULL TABLE
| Military Housing Area | Monthly rate |
|---|---|
| ABERDEEN PROVING GROUNDS, MD | $2,478 |
| ABILENE/DYESS AFB, TX | $1,872 |
| AKRON, OH | $1,581 |
| ALBANY, GA | $1,371 |
| ALBUQUERQUE/KIRTLAND AFB, NM | $2,211 |
| ALEXANDRIA, LA | $1,290 |
| ALLENTOWN/BETHLEHEM, PA | $2,373 |
| ALTUS AFB, OK | $1,254 |
| ANCHORAGE, AK | $2,874 |
| ANN ARBOR, MI | $2,559 |
| ANNAPOLIS, MD | $2,928 |
| ANNISTON/FORT MCCLELLAN, AL | $1,185 |
| ASHEVILLE, NC | $2,214 |
| ASTORIA, OR | $2,055 |
| ATLANTA, GA | $2,388 |
| ATLANTIC CITY, NJ | $2,655 |
| AUBURN, AL | $1,707 |
| AUSTIN, TX | $2,241 |
| BALLSTON SPA/ALBANY, NY | $2,634 |
| BALTIMORE, MD | $2,610 |
| BANGOR, ME | $1,893 |
| BARSTOW/FORT IRWIN, CA | $2,001 |
| BATON ROUGE, LA | $1,875 |
| BATTLE CREEK/KALAMAZOO, MI | $1,959 |
| BEALE AFB, CA | $2,967 |
| BEAUFORT/PARRIS ISLAND, SC | $2,403 |
| BEAUMONT, TX | $1,518 |
| BIRMINGHAM, AL | $2,439 |
| BISMARCK, ND | $1,596 |
| BLOOMINGTON, IN | $1,905 |
| BOISE, ID | $1,926 |
| BOSTON, MA | $4,791 |
| BOULDER, CO | $2,754 |
| BREMERTON, WA | $2,364 |
| BRIDGEPORT, CA | $2,085 |
| BROWNSVILLE, TX | $1,503 |
| BRUNSWICK, ME | $2,205 |
| BUFFALO, NY | $2,214 |
| BURLINGTON, VT | $3,120 |
| CAMP LEJEUNE, NC | $1,584 |
| CAMP PENDLETON, CA | $3,963 |
| CANNON AFB/CLOVIS, NM | $1,365 |
| CAPE COD-PLYMOUTH, MA | $3,924 |
| CAPE MAY, NJ | $2,754 |
| CARLISLE BARRACKS, PA | $2,076 |
| CHAMPAIGN/URBANA, IL | $1,539 |
| CHARLESTON, SC | $2,385 |
| CHARLESTON, WV | $1,404 |
| CHARLOTTE, NC | $2,169 |
| CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $2,373 |
| CHATTANOOGA, TN | $1,986 |
| CHEYENNE, WY | $1,653 |
| CHICAGO, IL | $3,438 |
| CHINA LAKE, CA | $1,563 |
| CINCINNATI, OH | $2,283 |
| CLEVELAND, OH | $1,998 |
| COASTAL MAINE, ME | $2,193 |
| COLLEGE STATION, TX | $1,758 |
| COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $2,358 |
| COLUMBIA/FORT JACKSON, SC | $1,878 |
| COLUMBIA/JEFFERSON CITY, MO | $1,377 |
| COLUMBUS AFB, MS | $1,398 |
| COLUMBUS, OH | $1,875 |
| COOS BAY, OR | $1,779 |
| CORPUS CHRISTI, TX | $1,788 |
| CORVALLIS, OR | $2,388 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 510 | $1,329 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 520 | $1,332 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 530 | $1,338 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 540 | $1,344 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 550 | $1,353 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 560 | $1,362 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 570 | $1,371 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 580 | $1,380 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 590 | $1,392 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 600 | $1,404 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 610 | $1,410 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 620 | $1,419 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 630 | $1,425 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 640 | $1,434 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 650 | $1,443 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 660 | $1,449 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 670 | $1,461 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 680 | $1,470 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 690 | $1,482 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 700 | $1,497 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 710 | $1,515 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 720 | $1,536 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 730 | $1,557 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 740 | $1,590 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 750 | $1,638 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 760 | $1,686 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 770 | $1,752 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 780 | $1,815 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 790 | $1,890 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 800 | $1,962 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 810 | $2,064 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 820 | $2,160 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 830 | $2,250 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 840 | $2,322 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 850 | $2,409 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 860 | $2,487 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 870 | $2,652 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 880 | $2,850 |
| COUNTY COST GROUP 890 | $3,156 |
| DAHLGREN/FORT A.P. HILL | $2,313 |
| DAHLONEGA, GA | $2,208 |
| DALLAS, TX | $2,469 |
| DAVIS-MONTHAN AFB, AZ | $1,905 |
| DENVER, CO | $2,841 |
| DES MOINES, IA | $1,770 |
| DETROIT, MI | $2,361 |
| DOVER AFB/REHOBOTH, DE | $2,277 |
| DULUTH, MN | $2,064 |
| DURHAM/CHAPEL HILL, NC | $2,118 |
| EASTERN PANHANDLE, WV | $2,058 |
| EASTERN SHORE, MD | $2,121 |
| EDWARDS AFB/PALMDALE, CA | $2,658 |
| EGLIN AFB, FL | $2,433 |
| EL CENTRO, CA | $1,986 |
| EL PASO, TX | $1,809 |
| ELIZABETH CITY, NC | $2,508 |
| ERIE, PA | $1,464 |
| ESSEX CO, MA | $3,477 |
| EUGENE, OR | $2,187 |
| EVERETT, WA | $2,748 |
| FAIRBANKS, AK | $2,436 |
| FALLON NAS, NV | $1,596 |
| FARGO, ND | $1,707 |
| FAYETTEVILLE, AR | $1,782 |
| FITCHBURG, MA | $3,093 |
| FLORIDA KEYS, FL | $3,969 |
| FORT BENNING, GA | $1,716 |
| FORT BRAGG/POPE, NC | $1,806 |
| FORT CAMPBELL, KY | $1,815 |
| FORT CHAFFEE/FORT SMITH, AR | $1,263 |
| FORT COLLINS, CO | $2,268 |
| FORT DETRICK, MD | $2,682 |
| FORT DRUM/WATERTOWN, NY | $1,665 |
| FORT G. G. MEADE, MD | $2,901 |
| FORT GORDON, AL | $1,890 |
| FORT HOOD, TX | $1,695 |
| FORT HUACHUCA, AZ | $1,719 |
| FORT KNOX, KY | $1,647 |
| FORT LEAVENWORTH, KS | $1,815 |
| FORT LEONARD WOOD, MO | $1,479 |
| FORT MONMOUTH/EARLE NWS, NJ | $3,549 |
| FORT MYERS BEACH, FL | $2,694 |
| FORT PIERCE, FL | $2,691 |
| FORT POLK, LA | $1,218 |
| FORT RILEY, KS | $1,314 |
| FORT RUCKER, AL | $1,572 |
| FORT SILL/LAWTON, OK | $1,233 |
| FORT STEWART, GA | $2,310 |
| FORT WAYNE, IN | $1,947 |
| FORT WORTH, TX | $2,118 |
| FRANKFORT, KY | $1,410 |
| FRESNO, CA | $2,439 |
| GAINESVILLE, FL | $2,040 |
| GOODFELLOW AFB, TX | $1,578 |
| GRAND FORKS, ND | $1,731 |
| GRAND HAVEN, MI | $2,181 |
| GRAND RAPIDS, MI | $2,148 |
| GREAT LAKES NAVTRACEN, IL | $2,427 |
| GREENSBORO, NC | $1,809 |
| GREENVILLE, SC | $1,923 |
| GULFPORT, MS | $1,602 |
| HAMPDEN COUNTY, MA | $2,388 |
| HAMPTON/NEWPORT NEWS, VA | $2,274 |
| HANSCOM AFB, MA | $4,188 |
| HARTFORD, CT | $2,901 |
| HATTIESBURG, MS | $1,395 |
| HAWAII COUNTY, HI | $3,594 |
| HELENA, MT | $1,887 |
| HOLLOMAN AFB/ALAMOGORDO, NM | $1,590 |
| HONOLULU COUNTY, HI | $3,663 |
| HOUSTON, TX | $2,193 |
| HUMBOLDT COUNTY, CA | $1,827 |
| HUNTINGTON, WV | $1,533 |
| HUNTSVILLE, AL | $1,797 |
| INDIAN HEAD NAVORDSTA, MD | $3,249 |
| INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $1,875 |
| JACKSON, MS | $1,920 |
| JACKSONVILLE, FL | $2,181 |
| JB MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ | $2,823 |
| JOHNSON CITY/KINGSPORT, TN | $1,548 |
| JUNEAU, AK | $3,354 |
| KANSAS CITY, MO | $1,986 |
| KAUAI COUNTY, HI | $3,798 |
| KETCHIKAN, AK | $2,868 |
| KINGS BAY/BRUNSWICK, GA | $2,133 |
| KNOXVILLE, TN | $2,184 |
| KODIAK ISLAND, AK | $2,865 |
| LAFAYETTE, LA | $1,584 |
| LAKE CHARLES, LA | $1,356 |
| LANSING, MI | $1,806 |
| LAUGHLIN AFB/DEL RIO, TX | $1,470 |
| LEMOORE NAS, CA | $2,139 |
| LEXINGTON, KY | $1,875 |
| LEXINGTON, VA | $1,536 |
| LINCOLN, NE | $1,788 |
| LITTLE ROCK, AR | $1,848 |
| LONG ISLAND, NY | $4,425 |
| LOS ANGELES, CA | $3,882 |
| LOUISVILLE, KY | $1,989 |
| LUBBOCK, TX | $1,476 |
| MADISON, WI | $2,655 |
| MALMSTROM SFB/GREAT FALLS, MT | $1,608 |
| MANCHESTER/CONCORD, NH | $3,177 |
| MARIN/SONOMA, CA | $3,303 |
| MARQUETTE, MI | $1,821 |
| MARTHA'S VINEYARD, MA | $3,984 |
| MAUI COUNTY, HI | $4,329 |
| MEMPHIS, TN | $2,154 |
| MERIDIAN, MS | $1,290 |
| MIAMI/FORT LAUDERDALE, FL | $3,660 |
| MILWAUKEE, WI | $2,607 |
| MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL, MN | $2,541 |
| MINOT AFB, ND | $1,548 |
| MOBILE, AL | $1,887 |
| MONROE, LA | $1,194 |
| MONTEREY, CA | $3,465 |
| MONTGOMERY, AL | $1,683 |
| MOODY AFB, GA | $1,524 |
| MOREHEAD/CHERRY PT MCAS, NC | $1,851 |
| MORGANTOWN, WV | $1,641 |
| MOUNTAIN HOME AFB, ID | $1,605 |
| MYRTLE BEACH, SC | $2,097 |
| NANTUCKET, MA | $4,344 |
| NASHVILLE, TN | $2,268 |
| NELLIS AFB/LAS VEGAS, NV | $2,070 |
| NEW HAVEN/FAIRFIELD, CT | $3,069 |
| NEW LONDON, CT | $2,580 |
| NEW ORLEANS, LA | $1,905 |
| NEW YORK CITY, NY | $5,070 |
| NEWPORT, RI | $2,847 |
| NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH, VA | $2,430 |
| NORTHERN NEW JERSEY, NJ | $4,749 |
| OAKLAND, CA | $3,759 |
| OCALA, FL | $2,370 |
| OGDEN/HILL AFB, UT | $2,118 |
| OKLAHOMA CITY, OK | $1,644 |
| OMAHA/OFFUTT AFB, NE | $2,085 |
| ORLANDO, FL | $2,658 |
| OUTER BANKS, NC | $2,604 |
| OXFORD, MD | $2,445 |
| PADUCAH, KY | $1,365 |
| PANAMA CITY, FL | $2,163 |
| PATRICK SFB, FL | $2,502 |
| PATUXENT RIVER, MD | $2,406 |
| PENSACOLA, FL | $1,863 |
| PEORIA, IL | $1,572 |
| PERTH AMBOY, NJ | $3,393 |
| PHILADELPHIA, PA/CAMDEN, NJ | $2,691 |
| PHOENIX, AZ | $2,289 |
| PITTSBURGH, PA | $2,283 |
| PORT ANGELES, WA | $2,436 |
| PORTLAND, ME | $3,252 |
| PORTLAND, OR | $2,379 |
| PORTSMOUTH, NH/KITTERY, ME | $3,321 |
| PROVIDENCE, RI | $3,195 |
| PROVO, UT | $2,058 |
| QUANTICO/WOODBRIDGE, VA | $2,955 |
| RALEIGH, NC | $2,091 |
| RAPID CITY/ELLSWORTH AFB, SD | $1,986 |
| RENO/CARSON CITY, NV | $2,391 |
| RICHMOND/FORT LEE, VA | $2,358 |
| RIVERSIDE, CA | $3,351 |
| ROANOKE, VA | $1,911 |
| ROBINS AFB, GA | $1,800 |
| ROCHESTER, NY | $2,214 |
| ROCK ISLAND, IL | $1,908 |
| ROME/GRIFFISS AFB, NY | $2,109 |
| SACRAMENTO, CA | $2,904 |
| SAGINAW, MI | $1,503 |
| SALEM, OR | $2,004 |
| SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $2,130 |
| SAN ANTONIO, TX | $1,869 |
| SAN BERNARDINO, CA | $3,288 |
| SAN DIEGO, CA | $3,975 |
| SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,127 |
| SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA | $3,198 |
| SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA | $4,659 |
| SANTA FE/LOS ALAMOS, NM | $2,964 |
| SAULT STE MARIE, MI | $1,536 |
| SAVANNAH, GA | $2,415 |
| SCOTT AFB, IL | $1,542 |
| SEATTLE, WA | $3,135 |
| SEYMOUR JOHNSON AFB, NC | $1,521 |
| SHREVEPORT/BARKSDALE AFB, LA | $1,845 |
| SIOUX FALLS, SD | $1,554 |
| SITKA, AK | $3,210 |
| SPARTA/FORT MCCOY, WI | $1,395 |
| SPOKANE, WA | $2,184 |
| SPRINGFIELD, MO | $1,389 |
| SPRINGFIELD/DECATUR, IL | $1,527 |
| ST MARY AND TERREBONNE, LA | $1,620 |
| ST. LOUIS, MO | $2,436 |
| STATE COLLEGE, PA | $1,791 |
| STATEN ISLAND, NY | $3,735 |
| STEVENS POINT, WI | $1,338 |
| STOCKTON, CA | $2,553 |
| SUMTER/SHAW AFB, SC | $1,503 |
| SYRACUSE, NY | $2,049 |
| TACOMA, WA | $2,556 |
| TALLAHASSEE, FL | $1,824 |
| TAMPA, FL | $2,709 |
| TERRE HAUTE, IN | $1,494 |
| TOLEDO, OH | $2,031 |
| TOPEKA, KS | $1,626 |
| TRAVERSE CITY, MI | $2,070 |
| TRENTON, NJ | $3,465 |
| TULSA, OK | $1,638 |
| TWENTY NINE PALMS MCB, CA | $1,980 |
| VALLEJO/TRAVIS AFB, CA | $3,369 |
| VANCE AFB/ENID, OK | $1,200 |
| VANDENBERG SFB, CA | $3,333 |
| VENTURA, CA | $3,537 |
| VOLUSIA COUNTY, FL | $2,286 |
| WACO, TX | $1,755 |
| WARRENTON, VA | $3,066 |
| WASHINGTON, DC METRO AREA | $3,132 |
| WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $3,423 |
| WEST POINT, NY | $3,468 |
| WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY | $4,479 |
| WHIDBEY ISLAND, WA | $2,073 |
| WHITE SANDS MR/LAS CRUCES, NM | $1,701 |
| WHITEMAN AFB, MO | $1,611 |
| WICHITA FLS/SHEPPARD AFB, TX | $1,491 |
| WICHITA/MCCONNELL AFB, KS | $1,377 |
| WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON, PA | $1,740 |
| WILLOW GROVE, PA | $2,934 |
| WILMINGTON, NC | $2,040 |
| WORCESTER, MA | $2,919 |
| WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, OH | $1,650 |
| YAKIMA, WA | $1,923 |
| YOUNGSTOWN, OH | $1,191 |
| YUMA, AZ | $1,695 |
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Before you decide
VA and your school certifying official have the final say. Your school reports your enrollment and VA sets the payment, so do not sign a lease on this estimate alone. VA's GI Bill Comparison Tool shows what VA expects at a specific school. StandWatch is not affiliated with VA or any agency, and this is education, not benefits advice. The full educational-purpose statement.
Sources
Checked October 30, 2026: VA, Post-9/11 GI Bill rates · DTMO, BAH rate lookup · VA, GI Bill Comparison Tool. The table is DTMO's 2026 BAH data for an E-5 with dependents. Our GI Bill guide covers the rest of the benefit.
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