California (CA) BAH Rates
2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rates for 26 military duty stations in California. Average E-5 with dependents rate: $3,050/mo.
CA Duty Station BAH Comparison — E-5
E-5 with dependents rates across California stations. Highest: $5,127 (San Francisco). Lowest: $3,351 (Riverside). Average: $3,909/mo.
Barstow/Fort Irwin, CA
MHA: CA028
E-5 w/ Dep
$2,001
O-3 w/ Dep
$2,748
Beale Afb, CA
MHA: CA033
E-5 w/ Dep
$2,967
O-3 w/ Dep
$3,165
Bridgeport, CA
MHA: CA393
E-5 w/ Dep
$2,085
O-3 w/ Dep
$3,018
Camp Pendleton, CA
MHA: CA024
E-5 w/ Dep
$3,963
O-3 w/ Dep
$4,659
China Lake, CA
MHA: CA021
E-5 w/ Dep
$1,563
O-3 w/ Dep
$2,154
Edwards Afb/Palmdale, CA
MHA: CA457
E-5 w/ Dep
$2,658
O-3 w/ Dep
$3,264
El Centro, CA
MHA: CA420
E-5 w/ Dep
$1,986
O-3 w/ Dep
$2,664
Fresno, CA
MHA: CA022
E-5 w/ Dep
$2,439
O-3 w/ Dep
$2,937
Humboldt County, CA
MHA: CA042
E-5 w/ Dep
$1,827
O-3 w/ Dep
$2,838
Lemoore Nas, CA
MHA: CA023
E-5 w/ Dep
$2,139
O-3 w/ Dep
$2,451
Los Angeles, CA
MHA: CA037
E-5 w/ Dep
$3,882
O-3 w/ Dep
$4,524
Marin/Sonoma, CA
MHA: CA027
E-5 w/ Dep
$3,303
O-3 w/ Dep
$4,146
Monterey, CA
MHA: CA039
E-5 w/ Dep
$3,465
O-3 w/ Dep
$4,824
Oakland, CA
MHA: CA018
E-5 w/ Dep
$3,759
O-3 w/ Dep
$4,362
Riverside, CA
MHA: CA041
E-5 w/ Dep
$3,351
O-3 w/ Dep
$3,705
Sacramento, CA
MHA: CA034
E-5 w/ Dep
$2,904
O-3 w/ Dep
$3,039
San Bernardino, CA
MHA: CA031
E-5 w/ Dep
$3,288
O-3 w/ Dep
$3,414
San Diego, CA
MHA: CA038
E-5 w/ Dep
$3,975
O-3 w/ Dep
$4,518
San Francisco, CA
MHA: CA019
E-5 w/ Dep
$5,127
O-3 w/ Dep
$5,556
San Luis Obispo, CA
MHA: CA392
E-5 w/ Dep
$3,198
O-3 w/ Dep
$4,215
Santa Clara County, CA
MHA: CA044
E-5 w/ Dep
$4,659
O-3 w/ Dep
$5,199
Stockton, CA
MHA: CA035
E-5 w/ Dep
$2,553
O-3 w/ Dep
$3,309
Twenty Nine Palms Mcb, CA
MHA: CA032
E-5 w/ Dep
$1,980
O-3 w/ Dep
$2,814
Vallejo/Travis Afb, CA
MHA: CA036
E-5 w/ Dep
$3,369
O-3 w/ Dep
$3,537
Vandenberg Sfb, CA
MHA: CA026
E-5 w/ Dep
$3,333
O-3 w/ Dep
$3,780
Ventura, CA
MHA: CA025
E-5 w/ Dep
$3,537
O-3 w/ Dep
$4,212
About BAH in California
California has 26 Military Housing Areas with BAH rates that reflect local rental costs. Rates vary significantly across the state based on the cost of living in each area. The Department of Defense calculates BAH using median rental data collected from each housing area, ensuring that service members receive allowances aligned with actual housing costs in their duty station location.
The highest E-5 with dependents BAH rate in California is $5,127/mo and the lowest is $1,563/mo. This range reflects the diversity of housing markets across California's military installations.
How California BAH Rates Are Determined
BAH rates in California are based on annual surveys of local rental markets conducted by the Department of Defense. These surveys measure median housing costs including rent, utilities, and renter's insurance for various housing profiles. Each Military Housing Area (MHA) in California receives rates tailored to its specific cost of living, which is why rates can differ significantly between duty stations even within the same state. Service members stationed in California should use our calculator to find the exact rate for their specific pay grade and dependency status.
Related Resources
- BAH rates by pay grade — Compare rates across all ranks
- Historical BAH rates — See how California rates changed over time
- Compare duty stations — Side-by-side BAH comparison
- BAH affordability tool — What can you afford?