BAH Calculator

Enter your BAH rate to see what it is worth after tax, how it compares to your rent, and its taxable-salary equivalent.

The method behind this calculator

BAH rates are set by ZIP code, rank and dependency status, and are published each year by the Defense Department โ€” this tool does not guess them, so enter yours from the official calculator.

What it does show is the part that matters for budgeting: because BAH is not taxed, it is worth considerably more than the same amount of basic pay. At a 22% marginal rate, $2,400 of BAH has the buying power of roughly $3,077 in taxable salary.

Step by step

  1. Look up your BAH rate on the official DoD calculator and enter it.
  2. Enter your rent and utilities.
  3. Add basic pay and BAS for total compensation.

The formula

taxable equivalent = BAH รท (1 โˆ’ marginal tax rate) surplus = BAH โˆ’ rent โˆ’ utilities

A worked example

On the values this calculator opens with, the BAH after housing costs is $80. Underneath, Taxable-equivalent value comes out at $3,076.92 of taxable salary and Tax saved per year at $8,123.08. Change any field and every figure updates as you type.

Questions people ask about this

Where do I find my BAH rate?
On the official Defense Travel Management Office BAH calculator, using your duty ZIP code, rank and dependency status.
Is BAH taxable?
No. Along with BAS, it is a non-taxable allowance, which is why comparing it to civilian salary requires grossing it up.
What happens if my rent is below BAH?
You keep the difference. BAH is paid as a flat rate rather than a reimbursement of actual costs.