Louisiana (LA) BAH Rates
2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rates for 9 military duty stations in Louisiana. Average E-5 with dependents rate: $1,543/mo.
LA Duty Station BAH Comparison — E-5
E-5 with dependents rates across Louisiana stations. Highest: $1,905 (New Orleans). Lowest: $1,194 (Monroe). Average: $1,543/mo.
Alexandria, LA
MHA: LA113
E-5 w/ Dep
$1,290
O-3 w/ Dep
$1,950
Baton Rouge, LA
MHA: LA114
E-5 w/ Dep
$1,875
O-3 w/ Dep
$2,229
Fort Polk, LA
MHA: LA115
E-5 w/ Dep
$1,218
O-3 w/ Dep
$1,938
Lafayette, LA
MHA: LA118
E-5 w/ Dep
$1,584
O-3 w/ Dep
$2,040
Lake Charles, LA
MHA: LA370
E-5 w/ Dep
$1,356
O-3 w/ Dep
$1,977
Monroe, LA
MHA: LA371
E-5 w/ Dep
$1,194
O-3 w/ Dep
$1,728
New Orleans, LA
MHA: LA116
E-5 w/ Dep
$1,905
O-3 w/ Dep
$2,553
Shreveport/Barksdale Afb, LA
MHA: LA117
E-5 w/ Dep
$1,845
O-3 w/ Dep
$2,268
St Mary And Terrebonne, LA
MHA: LA326
E-5 w/ Dep
$1,620
O-3 w/ Dep
$2,007
About BAH in Louisiana
Louisiana has 9 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 Louisiana is $1,905/mo and the lowest is $1,194/mo. This range reflects the diversity of housing markets across Louisiana's military installations.
How Louisiana BAH Rates Are Determined
BAH rates in Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana rates changed over time
- Compare duty stations — Side-by-side BAH comparison
- BAH affordability tool — What can you afford?