Charleston, SC BAH Rates
2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rates for Charleston, South Carolina (MHA: SC259).
| Pay Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 (Private/Seaman Recruit) | $2,220 | $1,755 |
| E-2 (Private/Seaman Apprentice) | $2,220 | $1,755 |
| E-3 (PFC/Seaman) | $2,220 | $1,755 |
| E-4 (Specialist/Corporal) | $2,220 | $1,755 |
| E-5 (Sergeant) | $2,385 | $1,941 |
| E-6 (Staff Sergeant) | $2,616 | $2,064 |
| E-7 (Sergeant First Class) | $2,652 | $2,223 |
| E-8 (Master Sergeant) | $2,694 | $2,439 |
| E-9 (Sergeant Major) | $2,769 | $2,496 |
| W-1 (Warrant Officer) | $2,634 | $2,172 |
| W-2 (Chief Warrant Officer 2) | $2,667 | $2,436 |
| W-3 (Chief Warrant Officer 3) | $2,724 | $2,508 |
| W-4 (Chief Warrant Officer 4) | $2,790 | $2,619 |
| W-5 (Chief Warrant Officer 5) | $2,880 | $2,661 |
| O-1E (2LT/ENS w/ >4yr Enlisted) | $2,655 | $2,382 |
| O-2E (1LT/LTJG w/ >4yr Enlisted) | $2,712 | $2,484 |
| O-3E (CPT/LT w/ >4yr Enlisted) | $2,802 | $2,607 |
| O-1 (Second Lieutenant/Ensign) | $2,421 | $2,049 |
| O-2 (First Lieutenant/LTJG) | $2,613 | $2,334 |
| O-3 (Captain/Lieutenant) | $2,721 | $2,529 |
| O-4 (Major/LCDR) | $2,904 | $2,646 |
| O-5 (Lieutenant Colonel/CDR) | $3,039 | $2,664 |
| O-6 (Colonel/Captain) | $3,060 | $2,697 |
| O-7 (Brigadier General/RDML) | $3,081 | $2,742 |
Charleston, SC — BAH Rate Snapshot
2026 monthly BAH rates with dependents across key pay grades. Rates range from $2,220 to $3,039 — a $819 spread.
Highlighted bars show commonly referenced pay grades (E-5, O-3). All rates are 2026 DoD BAH figures for Charleston, SC.
BAH Rate History (Estimated)
BAH Rate History — E-5 in Charleston, SC
With Dependents • 2022–2026 (+$579 / +32.1%)
* Rates sourced from official DoD BAH rate publications for each year.
Charleston vs. Nearby SC Duty Stations
E-5 with dependents BAH comparison. Charleston ranks #2 — $18/mo less than Beaufort/Parris Island.
About BAH in Charleston, SC
The 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rate for Charleston, South Carolina reflects the local cost of rental housing in the SC259 Military Housing Area. BAH rates are determined by surveying rental costs for various housing profiles in the area.
For an E-5 with dependents stationed in Charleston, the monthly BAH rate is $2,385, which comes to $28,620 per year. Without dependents, the same pay grade receives $1,941 per month.
BAH Rates by Rank in Charleston
View Charleston BAH rates broken down by specific pay grade: E-5 BAH rates, E-6 BAH rates, E-7 BAH rates, O-3 BAH rates, or browse all pay grades.
Using BAH Toward a VA Home Loan
Many service members in Charleston use their BAH to cover mortgage payments on a VA home loan. Use our BAH affordability tool to see what you can afford. Since BAH is non-taxable, it can stretch further than equivalent taxable income when qualifying for a mortgage.
Related Resources
- Historical BAH rates — See how Charleston rates changed from 2022 to 2026
- Compare BAH rates — Compare Charleston with another duty station
- All South Carolina duty stations