Real DoD 2026 BAH rates for all 3 Arkansas Military Housing Areas, broken down by pay grade and dependency status.
Arkansas has 3 Military Housing Areas (MHAs) covering every duty location with at least one DoD installation in the state. Rates below are pulled from the official Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) 2026 tables, effective January 1, 2026, and reflect the across-the-board 4.2% national average increase plus location-specific rental-market adjustments.
The highest 2026 E-5-with-dependents BAH in Arkansas is $1,848/month in Little Rock, Ar, while the lowest is $1,263/month in Fort Chaffee/Fort Smith, Ar — a 46% spread that reflects how dramatically housing markets vary even within the same state. PCSing within Arkansas can change your housing budget by hundreds of dollars per month, so always re-run your BAH the moment your orders drop.
Below is every Arkansas Military Housing Area with 2026 BAH rates for the most-searched pay grades. Rates show with dependents / without dependents. For grades not shown (E-2, E-3, W-1, W-3, W-4, W-5, O-2, O-7), use the main BAH calculator with your duty ZIP.
| Military Housing Area | E-1 with / no dep | E-5 with / no dep | E-7 with / no dep | W-2 with / no dep | O-1 with / no dep | O-3 with / no dep | O-5 with / no dep |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, Ar | $1,758 / $1,341 | $1,848 / $1,548 | $1,959 / $1,758 | $1,965 / $1,872 | $1,869 / $1,665 | $1,974 / $1,902 | $2,598 / $1,950 |
| Fayetteville, Ar | $1,662 / $1,263 | $1,782 / $1,437 | $2,154 / $1,662 | $2,205 / $1,836 | $1,821 / $1,536 | $2,355 / $1,944 | $2,847 / $2,223 |
| Fort Chaffee/Fort Smith, Ar | $1,173 / $879 | $1,263 / $996 | $1,785 / $1,338 | $1,827 / $1,371 | $1,320 / $1,077 | $1,962 / $1,527 | $2,370 / $1,842 |
Source: 2026 DoD BAH tables published by the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO), effective January 1, 2026. Verify your exact rate by ZIP code at defensetravel.dod.mil.
BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) is a non-taxable monthly stipend paid to service members who do not live in government quarters. The rate is set by your duty-station ZIP code (mapped to a Military Housing Area), your pay grade, and your dependency status (with or without dependents). The amount is calibrated annually to cover the median rental cost — including utilities and renter's insurance — for the housing profile assigned to your rank in your area.
Arkansas hosts 3 active-duty installations that drive most of the state's BAH demand. Each has its own MHA assignment, so rates near each base reflect that local rental market — not a state average.
If your duty station isn't in the table above, use the BAH calculator with your duty ZIP — DTMO maps each ZIP to its parent MHA automatically.
Arkansas fully exempts active-duty military pay from state income tax.
Arkansas exempts active-duty service compensation from Arkansas state income tax for service members and Arkansas residents stationed outside the state. The exemption applies to base pay, hazard pay, and other military compensation. Military retirement is also fully exempt from Arkansas state income tax as of tax year 2018.
This is general information, not tax advice. State tax law changes frequently — verify your current-year situation with the Arkansas Department of Revenue (or equivalent), the IRS, or a qualified tax professional. Service members claiming residency in a different state under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) are taxed only by their state of legal residence, regardless of where they're stationed. Civilian-spouse income protections under the Military Spouse Residency Relief Act (MSRRA) may also apply.
The top 3 most-expensive Arkansas Military Housing Areas by 2026 E-5-with-dependents BAH:
E-5: $1,848 with / $1,548 without dependents · E-7: $1,959 / $1,758 · O-3: $1,974 / $1,902
E-5: $1,782 with / $1,437 without dependents · E-7: $2,154 / $1,662 · O-3: $2,355 / $1,944
E-5: $1,263 with / $996 without dependents · E-7: $1,785 / $1,338 · O-3: $1,962 / $1,527
If you have flexibility on duty-station preferences during your next assignment cycle, these areas pay the highest housing allowance — but housing supply is also the tightest, so rate alone shouldn't drive the decision.
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