Military Family Housing Costs & BAH Analysis
Military families often use Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) as the anchor for their housing budget, but real-world costs usually include more than just rent. This planner estimates your all-in monthly housing cost, compares it to your entered BAH, and shows your monthly shortfall or surplus. It also helps you model common add-ons like utilities, renters insurance, parking, pet fees, and other recurring charges that may show up after a PCS.
How to use this planner (quick steps)
- Enter your BAH as shown on your LES (or your expected BAH if you already looked it up for your new duty location).
- Estimate market rent for the neighborhood and home type you’re actually targeting (not just the average for the city).
- Add predictable monthly extras: utilities, renters insurance, parking, pet rent/fees, and any recurring maintenance or HOA-like items you expect.
- If you expect temporary lodging, include your temporary housing days and daily rate to estimate the monthly impact (planning estimate only).
- Review the results: total monthly cost, BAH coverage %, and the gap you may need to cover from base pay or other income.
What this calculator adds up
The core idea is simple: you’re comparing your housing allowance to your full monthly housing spend.
- Total monthly housing cost = Rent + Utilities + Renters insurance + Parking + Pet fees + Recurring maintenance/other
- Monthly shortfall (or surplus) = Total monthly housing cost − BAH
- BAH coverage % = BAH ÷ Total monthly housing cost
Formulas
These are the calculations the planner is designed to represent.
Monthly gap:
Gap = TotalMonthlyCost − BAH
Coverage percentage:
Coverage% = (BAH / TotalMonthlyCost) × 100
Interpreting your results
- If your gap is positive, that’s your estimated out-of-pocket amount each month for housing-related costs beyond BAH.
- If your gap is negative, you may have a surplus (BAH exceeds estimated housing costs). Many families still allocate that surplus to savings, commuting, or seasonal utility spikes.
- A lower coverage % (for example, 75–85%) means housing costs are likely to pressure your overall budget; consider adjusting rent targets, commuting tradeoffs, or reducing variable costs.
Worked example (high-cost area shortfall)
Scenario: E-5 with dependents relocating to San Diego. The member enters BAH of $2,500. They find a rental for $2,800, and estimate $150 utilities, $15 renters insurance, and no parking/pet/maintenance fees.
- Total monthly housing cost = 2,800 + 150 + 15 + 0 + 0 + 0 = $2,965
- Gap = 2,965 − 2,500 = $465 shortfall
- Coverage % = 2,500 ÷ 2,965 ≈ 84.3%
Interpretation: In this plan, the family should expect to cover about $465/month from other income (base pay, spouse income, savings) unless they reduce rent/fees or increase the allowance (for example via a different verified BAH rate, if applicable).
Worked example (lower-cost area surplus)
Scenario: Family relocating to a lower-cost market where BAH entered is $1,950, rent is $1,600, utilities $200, insurance $20, parking $0, pet fees $30.
- Total monthly housing cost = 1,600 + 200 + 20 + 0 + 30 = $1,850
- Gap = 1,850 − 1,950 = −$100 (surplus)
- Coverage % = 1,950 ÷ 1,850 ≈ 105.4%
Interpretation: Even with a surplus, keep in mind that seasonal utilities, commuting costs, and one-time setup costs (deposits, furnishings) can absorb that margin.
Typical cost patterns (planning ranges)
- Utilities: Often $100–$300/month depending on climate, size, and whether water/trash are billed separately. Summer cooling and winter heating can create spikes.
- Renters insurance: Commonly $10–$30/month, sometimes required by the lease.
- Parking: $0 in many suburban markets; $50–$200+ in dense areas or near major bases where assigned parking is separate.
- Pet fees: One-time deposits plus monthly “pet rent” (often $25–$75/pet) are common in many markets.
Comparison table: example duty-station snapshots (illustrative)
These examples are not official rates; they show how the gap can change by market even with similar family circumstances.
| Market type | Entered BAH | Rent | Utilities/fees | Total | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Higher-cost metro | $2,500 | $2,800 | $165 | $2,965 | $465 shortfall |
| Mid-cost city | $2,100 | $1,950 | $220 | $2,170 | $70 shortfall |
| Lower-cost area | $1,950 | $1,600 | $250 | $1,850 | $100 surplus |
Assumptions & limitations
- Planning tool only: Results are estimates for budgeting and comparison, not official entitlement guidance.
- BAH varies by ZIP/MHA and circumstances: Actual BAH depends on location, pay grade, and dependency status; this calculator does not verify your entered BAH or determine eligibility.
- User-entered rent and fees drive the result: Local market rents can change quickly; utilities and recurring fees may be higher/lower than estimated.
- Utilities and fees are not standardized: Some rentals bundle water/trash/parking; others bill separately. Always confirm lease terms.
- Temporary lodging and moving costs: If you enter temporary housing, this is treated as a budgeting estimate; actual reimbursements (if any) depend on current policy and your orders.
- On-base housing: If you select on-base housing, many families effectively “exchange” BAH for housing; however, utility arrangements and fees differ by installation and privatized housing provider, so confirm local details.