El Centro, CA BAH Rates
2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rates for El Centro, California (MHA: CA420).
| Pay Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 (Private/Seaman Recruit) | $1,905 | $1,500 |
| E-2 (Private/Seaman Apprentice) | $1,905 | $1,500 |
| E-3 (PFC/Seaman) | $1,905 | $1,500 |
| E-4 (Specialist/Corporal) | $1,905 | $1,500 |
| E-5 (Sergeant) | $1,986 | $1,704 |
| E-6 (Staff Sergeant) | $2,151 | $1,824 |
| E-7 (Sergeant First Class) | $2,334 | $1,905 |
| E-8 (Master Sergeant) | $2,541 | $2,025 |
| E-9 (Sergeant Major) | $2,721 | $2,061 |
| W-1 (Warrant Officer) | $2,166 | $1,890 |
| W-2 (Chief Warrant Officer 2) | $2,418 | $2,022 |
| W-3 (Chief Warrant Officer 3) | $2,673 | $2,070 |
| W-4 (Chief Warrant Officer 4) | $2,739 | $2,187 |
| W-5 (Chief Warrant Officer 5) | $2,823 | $2,382 |
| O-1E (2LT/ENS w/ >4yr Enlisted) | $2,373 | $1,983 |
| O-2E (1LT/LTJG w/ >4yr Enlisted) | $2,634 | $2,052 |
| O-3E (CPT/LT w/ >4yr Enlisted) | $2,751 | $2,139 |
| O-1 (Second Lieutenant/Ensign) | $2,013 | $1,818 |
| O-2 (First Lieutenant/LTJG) | $2,148 | $1,962 |
| O-3 (Captain/Lieutenant) | $2,664 | $2,085 |
| O-4 (Major/LCDR) | $2,847 | $2,346 |
| O-5 (Lieutenant Colonel/CDR) | $2,976 | $2,460 |
| O-6 (Colonel/Captain) | $2,997 | $2,652 |
| O-7 (Brigadier General/RDML) | $3,018 | $2,697 |
El Centro, CA — BAH Rate Snapshot
2026 monthly BAH rates with dependents across key pay grades. Rates range from $1,905 to $2,976 — a $1,071 spread.
Highlighted bars show commonly referenced pay grades (E-5, O-3). All rates are 2026 DoD BAH figures for El Centro, CA.
BAH Rate History (Estimated)
BAH Rate History — E-5 in El Centro, CA
With Dependents • 2022–2026 (+$564 / +39.7%)
* Rates sourced from official DoD BAH rate publications for each year.
El Centro vs. Nearby CA Duty Stations
E-5 with dependents BAH comparison. El Centro ranks #5 — $3,141/mo less than San Francisco.
About BAH in El Centro, CA
The 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rate for El Centro, California reflects the local cost of rental housing in the CA420 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 El Centro, the monthly BAH rate is $1,986, which comes to $23,832 per year. Without dependents, the same pay grade receives $1,704 per month.
BAH Rates by Rank in El Centro
View El Centro 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 El Centro 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 El Centro rates changed from 2022 to 2026
- Compare BAH rates — Compare El Centro with another duty station
- All California duty stations