SAN DIEGO, CA · MHA CA038 · effective January 1, 2026
Naval Base San Diego BAH Rates 2026
Official 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing rates for Naval Base San Diego, which falls in the San Diego, CA housing area (CA038). An E-5 with dependents receives $3,975 per month here ($3,147 without dependents).
That is about 79% above the $2,225 average across all 338 military housing areas, ranking 12 of 338. BAH is tax-free, and most members also draw BAS at $476.95/month (enlisted).
E-4 with dependents
$3,666/mo
$2,763 without
E-5 with dependents
$3,975/mo
$3,147 without
E-6 with dependents
$4,404/mo
$3,387 without
E-7 with dependents
$4,446/mo
$3,678 without
O-1 with dependents
$4,032/mo
$3,351 without
O-3 with dependents
$4,518/mo
$4,248 without
2026 BAH rates at Naval Base San Diego — all pay grades
Monthly, tax-free. O-1E/O-2E/O-3E are officers with prior enlisted service.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $3,666 | $2,763 |
| E-2 | $3,666 | $2,763 |
| E-3 | $3,666 | $2,763 |
| E-4 | $3,666 | $2,763 |
| E-5 | $3,975 | $3,147 |
| E-6 | $4,404 | $3,387 |
| E-7 | $4,446 | $3,678 |
| E-8 | $4,488 | $4,065 |
| E-9 | $4,671 | $4,188 |
| W-1 | $4,425 | $3,564 |
| W-2 | $4,464 | $4,062 |
| W-3 | $4,521 | $4,206 |
| W-4 | $4,731 | $4,410 |
| W-5 | $4,992 | $4,455 |
| O-1E | $4,449 | $3,972 |
| O-2E | $4,506 | $4,161 |
| O-3E | $4,770 | $4,398 |
| O-1 | $4,032 | $3,351 |
| O-2 | $4,401 | $3,873 |
| O-3 | $4,518 | $4,248 |
| O-4 | $5,082 | $4,440 |
| O-5 | $5,493 | $4,458 |
| O-6 | $5,541 | $4,494 |
| O-7 | $5,586 | $4,575 |
| O-8 | $5,586 | $4,575 |
| O-9 | $5,586 | $4,575 |
| O-10 | $5,586 | $4,575 |
Need a different location? Use the BAH calculator to look up any US ZIP code.
Which ZIP codes get the Naval Base San Diego rate
Housing area CA038 covers 161 ZIP codes. If your duty station falls in any of them you receive the rates on this page, whatever your home address. At this location the with-dependents rate runs 26% above the without-dependents rate, and pay grades span $3,666 to $5,586 per month.
ZIP codes in CA038
91901, 91902, 91903, 91905, 91906, 91908, 91909, 91910, 91911, 91912, 91913, 91914, 91915, 91916, 91917, 91921, 91931, 91932, 91933, 91934, 91935, 91941, 91942, 91943, 91944, 91945, 91946, 91948, 91950, 91951, 91962, 91963, 91976, 91977, 91978, 91979, 91980, 91987, 92004, 92007, 92009, 92010, 92011, 92013, 92014, 92018, 92019, 92020, 92021, 92022, 92023, 92024, 92029, 92030, 92033, 92036, 92037, 92038, 92039, 92040 … and 101 more
Not listed? Look up any US ZIP with the BAH calculator.
Installations with similar BAH to Naval Base San Diego
An E-5 with dependents draws $3,975/month here — $47,700 a year, tax-free. These bases pay closest to the same:
| Installation | Area | E-5 w/ dependents |
|---|---|---|
| Naval Base San Diego | San Diego, CA | $3,975 |
| Camp Pendleton | Camp Pendleton, CA | $3,963 |
| Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam | Honolulu County, HI | $3,663 |
| Travis AFB | Vallejo/Travis AFB, CA | $3,369 |
| Fort Belvoir | Washington, DC Metro Area | $3,132 |
What these rates mean at Naval Base San Diego
Your BAH is fixed by your duty-station ZIP code, pay grade and dependency status — not by your actual rent or where in the area you choose to live. Everyone assigned to Naval Base San Diego at the same grade and dependency status receives the identical amount, so housing cheaper than your allowance leaves money in your pocket, and anything above it comes out of your own.
Rates are re-set every January from fresh local rental surveys. Individual rate protection means your BAH will not fall while you stay at Naval Base San Diego in the same grade with the same dependency status, even if the published rate for the area drops.
To see BAH alongside basic pay and BAS for your total monthly compensation, use the military pay calculator, or check basic pay by rank on the 2026 military pay chart.
Frequently asked questions
What is the BAH rate at Naval Base San Diego in 2026?
An E-5 with dependents assigned to Naval Base San Diego receives $3,975 per month in 2026, or $3,147 without dependents. Naval Base San Diego sits in the SAN DIEGO, CA military housing area (CA038). Rates vary by pay grade — the full table is on this page.
Is BAH at Naval Base San Diego higher or lower than average?
For an E-5 with dependents, Naval Base San Diego pays $3,975 against a $2,225 average across all 338 housing areas — about 79% above the national mean, ranking 12 of 338 areas.
Does BAH at Naval Base San Diego depend on where I actually live?
No. Your BAH is set by your duty-station ZIP code, not your home address, so everyone assigned to Naval Base San Diego at the same grade and dependency status receives the same rate. If you rent for less than your BAH you keep the difference; if you spend more, you cover it.
BAH rates at other installations
Source
Rates are the 2026 tables published by the Defense Travel Management Office for military housing area CA038 (SAN DIEGO, CA), effective January 1, 2026. Installation-to-area mapping uses the official DTMO ZIP file (duty-station ZIP 92136). This page is for estimation; your finance office is the authority on your entitlement.