Real DoD 2026 BAH rates for all 5 Tennessee Military Housing Areas, broken down by pay grade and dependency status.
Tennessee has 5 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 Tennessee is $2,268/month in Nashville, Tn, while the lowest is $1,548/month in Johnson City/Kingsport, Tn — a 47% spread that reflects how dramatically housing markets vary even within the same state. PCSing within Tennessee 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 Tennessee 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, Tn | $2,112 / $1,722 | $2,268 / $1,869 | $2,712 / $2,118 | $2,730 / $2,352 | $2,322 / $1,953 | $2,784 / $2,523 | $3,219 / $2,724 |
| Knoxville, Tn | $2,058 / $1,599 | $2,184 / $1,809 | $2,745 / $2,061 | $2,784 / $2,280 | $2,247 / $1,929 | $2,904 / $2,481 | $3,492 / $2,796 |
| Memphis, Tn | $1,992 / $1,530 | $2,154 / $1,719 | $2,337 / $1,995 | $2,343 / $2,190 | $2,181 / $1,824 | $2,352 / $2,253 | $2,643 / $2,325 |
| Chattanooga, Tn | $1,863 / $1,446 | $1,986 / $1,629 | $2,445 / $1,863 | $2,463 / $2,070 | $2,043 / $1,734 | $2,520 / $2,247 | $3,201 / $2,460 |
| Johnson City/Kingsport, Tn | $1,467 / $1,125 | $1,548 / $1,287 | $2,205 / $1,653 | $2,241 / $1,680 | $1,623 / $1,380 | $2,343 / $1,914 | $2,895 / $2,247 |
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.
Tennessee 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.
Tennessee has no state income tax — military pay and retirement are state-tax-free.
Tennessee fully repealed its limited Hall income tax (which only ever applied to investment income) in 2021. The state now has no income tax of any kind, so military pay, BAH, BAS, retirement, and VA disability are all state-tax-free for Tennessee residents. There is no state income tax return to file.
This is general information, not tax advice. State tax law changes frequently — verify your current-year situation with the Tennessee 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 5 most-expensive Tennessee Military Housing Areas by 2026 E-5-with-dependents BAH:
E-5: $2,268 with / $1,869 without dependents · E-7: $2,712 / $2,118 · O-3: $2,784 / $2,523
E-5: $2,184 with / $1,809 without dependents · E-7: $2,745 / $2,061 · O-3: $2,904 / $2,481
E-5: $2,154 with / $1,719 without dependents · E-7: $2,337 / $1,995 · O-3: $2,352 / $2,253
E-5: $1,986 with / $1,629 without dependents · E-7: $2,445 / $1,863 · O-3: $2,520 / $2,247
E-5: $1,548 with / $1,287 without dependents · E-7: $2,205 / $1,653 · O-3: $2,343 / $1,914
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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