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2026 BAH vs. house payment calculator

Enter your duty-station ZIP, pay grade and dependents, then edit the house costs to compare monthly BAH, payment and rent.

Free to use, with no sign up. Your entries stay in this browser. All results are monthly US dollars.

Military housing allowance

Use the duty-station ZIP for BAH. HUD rents below use this same ZIP.

House payment assumptions

These editable defaults are examples. Enter your lender quote and local tax and insurance estimates.

Monthly BAH

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Loading the static 2026 tables…

Monthly house payment

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Principal + interest + property tax + insurance. Excludes other ownership costs.

BAH minus payment

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Difference = BAH minus estimated monthly payment.

HUD fair market rent at this ZIP

Enter a five-digit ZIP to see rent estimates.

FY2026 revised Small Area FMR, per month
BedroomsFair market rent
1 bedroom—
2 bedrooms—
3 bedrooms—
4 bedrooms—

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Estimates only, not financial advice. This is a comparison of housing costs, not a loan approval or an official BAH entitlement determination.

The fixed-rate payment uses the standard amortization formula. Property tax uses the entered house price; assessed values and local exemptions may differ. Mortgage insurance, HOA fees, utilities, maintenance, closing costs and any VA funding fee are excluded.

Data years and sources

DoD/DTMO 2026 BAH rates and ZIP-to-MHA files: published December 11, 2025, effective January 1, 2026. Archive updated May 15, 2026, including the Abilene temporary increase effective May 16–December 31, 2026. Individual rate protection is not included.

HUD FY2026 revised Small Area FMR workbook: revision notice published April 21, 2026, effective May 21, 2026. HUD rents include most tenant-paid utilities.

Source files checked September 30, 2026. Source URLs, dates and file checksums. For your entitlement, use the official DTMO lookup and your finance office.

Frequently asked questions

Which ZIP should I enter for BAH?

Use your duty-station ZIP for the BAH lookup. The HUD rent lookup uses that same ZIP. BAH usually follows the duty station rather than the home you choose; check your entitlement with your finance office.

What is included in the house payment estimate?

The estimate includes principal and interest on a fixed-rate loan, property tax based on the entered house price, and yearly insurance divided by 12. It excludes mortgage insurance, HOA fees, utilities, maintenance, closing costs and any VA funding fee.

Will my actual BAH equal the number shown?

The calculator shows published 2026 locality rates by pay grade and dependency status, including the temporary Abilene increase. Your entitlement may differ because of individual rate protection, government quarters or special circumstances. Verify it with your finance office.

Are HUD fair market rents rental listings?

No. HUD FY2026 revised Small Area FMRs are monthly gross rent estimates for standard-quality units by ZIP and bedroom count, including most tenant-paid utilities. They are a benchmark, not a quote or a promise of available housing. Some ZIPs have no published value.

Are my details sent to a server?

Your entries stay in this browser. The page loads static government data files and calculates locally, with no account or sign up.

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