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San Diego BAH lookup
Any San Diego County ZIP, any grade.
2026 BAH, San Diego, CA
$3,975
a month for an E-5 with dependents · $47,700 a year
- Military housing area
- CA038
- With dependents
- $3,975
- Without dependents
- $3,147
- Difference
- $828
Rates from the DTMO 2026 BAH rate files. BAH is tax-free and paid with your regular pay; rate protection keeps your rate from going down while you stay at the same duty station.
Independent estimate tool. Not affiliated with DoD, DFAS or VA. Your LES, finance office or VA decision letter is the official amount.
San Diego BAH by grade
Every ZIP code in the San Diego housing area pays the same rate[bah]:
| Grade | With dependents | Without dependents | Yearly, with dependents |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $3,666 | $2,763 | $43,992 |
| E-2 | $3,666 | $2,763 | $43,992 |
| E-3 | $3,666 | $2,763 | $43,992 |
| E-4 | $3,666 | $2,763 | $43,992 |
| E-5 | $3,975 | $3,147 | $47,700 |
| E-6 | $4,404 | $3,387 | $52,848 |
| E-7 | $4,446 | $3,678 | $53,352 |
| E-8 | $4,488 | $4,065 | $53,856 |
| E-9 | $4,671 | $4,188 | $56,052 |
| W-1 | $4,425 | $3,564 | $53,100 |
| W-2 | $4,464 | $4,062 | $53,568 |
| W-3 | $4,521 | $4,206 | $54,252 |
| W-4 | $4,731 | $4,410 | $56,772 |
| W-5 | $4,992 | $4,455 | $59,904 |
| O-1E | $4,449 | $3,972 | $53,388 |
| O-2E | $4,506 | $4,161 | $54,072 |
| O-3E | $4,770 | $4,398 | $57,240 |
| O-1 | $4,032 | $3,351 | $48,384 |
| O-2 | $4,401 | $3,873 | $52,812 |
| O-3 | $4,518 | $4,248 | $54,216 |
| O-4 | $5,082 | $4,440 | $60,984 |
| O-5 | $5,493 | $4,458 | $65,916 |
| O-6 | $5,541 | $4,494 | $66,492 |
San Diego vs Camp Pendleton and other Southern California areas
Camp Pendleton has its own housing area (CA024) with slightly different rates. Assignments at Twentynine Palms and El Centro pay much less.
| Grade | San Diego | Camp Pendleton | Twentynine Palms | El Centro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $3,666 | $3,627 | $1,896 | $1,905 |
| E-5 | $3,975 | $3,963 | $1,980 | $1,986 |
| E-6 | $4,404 | $4,398 | $2,550 | $2,151 |
| E-7 | $4,446 | $4,494 | $2,649 | $2,334 |
| W-2 | $4,464 | $4,536 | $2,688 | $2,418 |
| O-1 | $4,032 | $4,023 | $2,052 | $2,013 |
| O-3 | $4,518 | $4,659 | $2,814 | $2,664 |
| O-4 | $5,082 | $5,085 | $3,090 | $2,847 |
What San Diego BAH means for take-home pay
For a Navy E-5 with 4 years of service and a family, $3,975 of BAH plus $476.95 of BAS adds $4,451.95 a month of tax-free pay to $3,946.80 of basic pay. That is more than the basic pay itself. Run the full numbers in the military pay estimator, or compare with other bases on BAH rates 2026.
- San Diego is one of the highest-paying housing areas in the country; the national median for an E-5 with dependents is $2,064.
- Your rate is set by your duty station ZIP, not where you rent. Living in Chula Vista or Oceanside does not change it.
- Veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill at a San Diego campus receive the E-5 with-dependents rate, $3,975, as their housing allowance; see the GI Bill calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is San Diego BAH for an E-5?
$3,975 a month with dependents and $3,147 without, in 2026.
Is Camp Pendleton BAH the same as San Diego?
No. Camp Pendleton is its own housing area (CA024): $3,963 for an E-5 with dependents in 2026, versus $3,975 in San Diego.
Does San Diego BAH change in 2027?
New rates take effect January 1, 2027 and are usually announced in mid-December. Individual rate protection keeps your current rate if the new one is lower.