Real DoD 2026 BAH rates for all 8 Washington Military Housing Areas, broken down by pay grade and dependency status.
Washington has 8 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 Washington is $3,135/month in Seattle, Wa, while the lowest is $1,923/month in Yakima, Wa — a 63% spread that reflects how dramatically housing markets vary even within the same state. PCSing within Washington 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 Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, Wa | $2,976 / $2,271 | $3,135 / $2,625 | $4,020 / $3,015 | $4,071 / $3,288 | $3,231 / $2,814 | $4,215 / $3,627 | $4,797 / $4,086 |
| Everett, Wa | $2,568 / $2,085 | $2,748 / $2,277 | $3,363 / $2,574 | $3,414 / $2,847 | $2,814 / $2,385 | $3,567 / $3,063 | $3,936 / $3,435 |
| Tacoma, Wa | $2,370 / $2,034 | $2,556 / $2,121 | $2,994 / $2,376 | $3,024 / $2,631 | $2,607 / $2,178 | $3,123 / $2,784 | $3,471 / $3,030 |
| Port Angeles, Wa | $2,145 / $1,671 | $2,436 / $1,827 | $2,940 / $2,205 | $2,976 / $2,523 | $2,493 / $1,869 | $3,081 / $2,706 | $3,435 / $2,982 |
| Bremerton, Wa | $2,265 / $1,974 | $2,364 / $2,091 | $2,844 / $2,265 | $2,895 / $2,439 | $2,415 / $2,163 | $3,045 / $2,595 | $3,411 / $2,913 |
| Spokane, Wa | $1,947 / $1,611 | $2,184 / $1,665 | $2,658 / $1,995 | $2,706 / $2,259 | $2,235 / $1,707 | $2,844 / $2,418 | $3,195 / $2,721 |
| Whidbey Island, Wa | $2,013 / $1,839 | $2,073 / $1,905 | $2,877 / $2,157 | $2,934 / $2,208 | $2,157 / $1,950 | $3,105 / $2,499 | $3,402 / $2,958 |
| Yakima, Wa | $1,731 / $1,329 | $1,923 / $1,458 | $2,499 / $1,875 | $2,550 / $2,016 | $1,983 / $1,536 | $2,703 / $2,214 | $3,243 / $2,568 |
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.
Washington hosts 5 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.
Washington has no state income tax — military pay and retirement are state-tax-free.
Washington imposes no state income tax on wages, military pay, or retirement income. A state capital-gains tax (passed in 2021) only affects high-dollar investment gains and does not touch service-member pay. Washington is a common residency choice for service members stationed at JBLM or Naval Base Kitsap.
This is general information, not tax advice. State tax law changes frequently — verify your current-year situation with the Washington 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 Washington Military Housing Areas by 2026 E-5-with-dependents BAH:
E-5: $3,135 with / $2,625 without dependents · E-7: $4,020 / $3,015 · O-3: $4,215 / $3,627
E-5: $2,748 with / $2,277 without dependents · E-7: $3,363 / $2,574 · O-3: $3,567 / $3,063
E-5: $2,556 with / $2,121 without dependents · E-7: $2,994 / $2,376 · O-3: $3,123 / $2,784
E-5: $2,436 with / $1,827 without dependents · E-7: $2,940 / $2,205 · O-3: $3,081 / $2,706
E-5: $2,364 with / $2,091 without dependents · E-7: $2,844 / $2,265 · O-3: $3,045 / $2,595
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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