2026 BAH by Duty Station for an E-5 with Dependents: Army Bases
Of the 3 Army housing areas compared here, Fort Bragg, NC pays the most in 2026 for an E-5 with dependents, at $1,806 per month, and Fort Riley, KS the least at $1,314. The spread is $492 a month, or $5,904 a year, for the same paygrade doing the same job.
BAH is set by local rental cost in each Military Housing Area, not by branch or by billet, which is why orders can change your housing budget more than a promotion does. Rates below are the official 2026 figures from the Defense Travel Management Office, effective January 1, 2026.
This comparison covers the 3 housing areas this site serves. It is not a ranking of every Army installation, and stations that share a housing area are shown as one row because they are paid the same rate.
| Rank | Duty station | E-5 with dependents | vs 2025 | Housing area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Bragg, NC | $1,806 | â–² +$21 | NC182 |
| 2 | Fort Benning, GA | $1,716 | â–² +$51 | GA075 |
| 3 | Fort Riley, KS | $1,314 | â–² +$45 | KS100 |
2026 rates published by the Defense Travel Management Office, effective January 1, 2026. Monthly amounts, shown for an E-5 with dependents so the stations compare like for like. Every paygrade and dependent status differs; use the calculator for yours. Members already stationed in an area keep the higher previous rate when local rates decrease (individual rate protection). BAH is not a loan approval.
What your BAH covers at Fort Bragg
Official 2026 rates. Pick your grade and see the home price your housing allowance supports.
Your 2026 BAH at Fort Bragg
$1,806/mo
up $21 from 2025
Estimated purchase power
~$240,000
with $0 down, 30-yr fixed, after $176/mo property tax at the 0.878% Cumberland County rate, and ~$110/mo insurance
See what you qualify for2026 BAH rates published by the Defense Travel Management Office, effective January 1, 2026. O-8 and above shown at the O-7 rate. Estimate only. Not a loan offer, rate quote, or commitment to lend. Property tax is charged at 0.878% of the price, the effective rate in Cumberland County, NC (median taxes actually paid, Census ACS 2024 1-year, against the typical local home value), rather than a flat percentage of your allowance. Homeowners insurance is an assumption at $110 a month and varies widely, especially near the coast, and flood insurance is separate again. Your qualifying amount depends on credit, income, debts, and market conditions. Excludes any VA funding fee.
Army BAH questions, answered for an E-5 with dependents
- Which of these Army duty stations has the highest 2026 BAH for an E-5 with dependents?
- Fort Bragg, NC, at $1,806 per month. That is $492 per month more than Fort Riley, KS, the lowest of the 3 housing areas compared on this page, or $5,904 over a year. This comparison covers the duty stations this site serves, not every Army installation.
- Which of these Army duty stations has the lowest 2026 BAH for an E-5 with dependents?
- Fort Riley, KS, at $1,314 per month, of the 3 housing areas compared on this page. Housing costs there are lower too, so a smaller allowance does not automatically mean less buying power.
- How much does BAH vary between these Army bases for an E-5 with dependents?
- Across the 3 stations compared on this page the 2026 rate runs from $1,314 to $1,806 per month, a spread of $492. BAH is set by local rental cost in each Military Housing Area, so the same paygrade is paid very differently depending on orders.
- Did BAH go up or down at these Army bases in 2026?
- Up. All 3 of the stations compared here rose for an E-5 with dependents between 2025 and 2026.
- Does BAH for an E-5 with dependents count toward a VA loan?
- Yes. Basic Allowance for Housing generally counts as qualifying income on a VA loan, and it is not taxed. At Fort Bragg, NC that is $1,806 per month going into the qualifying calculation, and $1,314 at Fort Riley, KS.
Official sources
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MSgt. USMC Ret. | Branch Manager
RWM Home Loans · NMLS# 2114896
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