San Diego, CA BAH Rates
2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rates for San Diego, California (MHA: CA038).
| Pay Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 (Private/Seaman Recruit) | $3,666 | $2,763 |
| E-2 (Private/Seaman Apprentice) | $3,666 | $2,763 |
| E-3 (PFC/Seaman) | $3,666 | $2,763 |
| E-4 (Specialist/Corporal) | $3,666 | $2,763 |
| E-5 (Sergeant) | $3,975 | $3,147 |
| E-6 (Staff Sergeant) | $4,404 | $3,387 |
| E-7 (Sergeant First Class) | $4,446 | $3,678 |
| E-8 (Master Sergeant) | $4,488 | $4,065 |
| E-9 (Sergeant Major) | $4,671 | $4,188 |
| W-1 (Warrant Officer) | $4,425 | $3,564 |
| W-2 (Chief Warrant Officer 2) | $4,464 | $4,062 |
| W-3 (Chief Warrant Officer 3) | $4,521 | $4,206 |
| W-4 (Chief Warrant Officer 4) | $4,731 | $4,410 |
| W-5 (Chief Warrant Officer 5) | $4,992 | $4,455 |
| O-1E (2LT/ENS w/ >4yr Enlisted) | $4,449 | $3,972 |
| O-2E (1LT/LTJG w/ >4yr Enlisted) | $4,506 | $4,161 |
| O-3E (CPT/LT w/ >4yr Enlisted) | $4,770 | $4,398 |
| O-1 (Second Lieutenant/Ensign) | $4,032 | $3,351 |
| O-2 (First Lieutenant/LTJG) | $4,401 | $3,873 |
| O-3 (Captain/Lieutenant) | $4,518 | $4,248 |
| O-4 (Major/LCDR) | $5,082 | $4,440 |
| O-5 (Lieutenant Colonel/CDR) | $5,493 | $4,458 |
| O-6 (Colonel/Captain) | $5,541 | $4,494 |
| O-7 (Brigadier General/RDML) | $5,586 | $4,575 |
San Diego, CA — BAH Rate Snapshot
2026 monthly BAH rates with dependents across key pay grades. Rates range from $3,666 to $5,493 — a $1,827 spread.
Highlighted bars show commonly referenced pay grades (E-5, O-3). All rates are 2026 DoD BAH figures for San Diego, CA.
BAH Rate History (Estimated)
BAH Rate History — E-5 in San Diego, CA
With Dependents • 2022–2026 (+$1,104 / +38.5%)
* Rates sourced from official DoD BAH rate publications for each year.
San Diego vs. Nearby CA Duty Stations
E-5 with dependents BAH comparison. San Diego ranks #3 — $1,152/mo less than San Francisco.
About BAH in San Diego, CA
The 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rate for San Diego, California reflects the local cost of rental housing in the CA038 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 San Diego, the monthly BAH rate is $3,975, which comes to $47,700 per year. Without dependents, the same pay grade receives $3,147 per month.
BAH Rates by Rank in San Diego
View San Diego 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 San Diego 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 San Diego rates changed from 2022 to 2026
- Compare BAH rates — Compare San Diego with another duty station
- All California duty stations