BAH Rates for 2021 (Calculator)

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The Department of Defense released its 2021 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates.

BAH rates will increase an average of 2.9 percent when the new rates take effect on January 1, 2021.  An estimated $23 billion will be paid to approximately one million Service members.

Service members can calculate their individual BAH rates using the above BAH Calculator.

BAH rates are based on local area rental market data and vary by geographic duty station, pay grade and dependency status. The cost of utilities is also considered.

BAH is based only on rental properties, not homeownership costs like mortgage payments and property taxes.

BAH also includes rate protection.

This means—

If a member’s current BAH rate is less than the previous year, the member receives at least the same amount of BAH as the previous year, provided that the member’s duty location, rank and dependency status stays the same.

If BAH rates go up, the member will receive the higher BAH rate as long as eligibility is uninterrupted. This ensures members who have made long-term lease or contract commitments are not penalized if the area’s housing costs decrease.