Calculate Overseas Cost of Living Allowance for 239 duty stations across 46 countries
The Overseas Cost of Living Allowance (OCONUS COLA) is a non-taxable allowance that offsets higher costs of goods and services at overseas duty stations. It's separate from OHA (housing) and covers everyday expenses like groceries, transportation, and personal services.
COLA uses a location-specific cost index (US average = 100), your base pay, years of service, and dependents. High-cost locations like Switzerland (index 188) or Iceland (166) produce significantly more COLA than locations near US costs like Okinawa (102) or Korea (102-112).
Single members in barracks with a meal card receive approximately 63% of the standard rate since some expenses are already covered.
Use the Full Compensation Calculator to see how OCONUS COLA fits into your total pay. Check the OHA Calculator for overseas housing allowance rates, or the CONUS COLA Calculator for high-cost stateside areas.
These locations have the highest cost-of-living indices, producing the most COLA:
OCONUS COLA (Overseas Cost of Living Allowance) is a non-taxable allowance that compensates military members for higher costs at overseas duty stations. It covers everyday expenses like groceries, transportation, and personal services — not housing, which is covered by OHA. COLA amounts are based on a location cost index, your base pay, years of service, and number of dependents.
OCONUS COLA in Germany varies by location. As of January 2026, Ramstein/KMC has an index of 130, Stuttgart is 132, Wiesbaden is 138, and Grafenwöhr/Vilseck is 120. For an E-5 with 4 years of service and no dependents, Ramstein produces approximately $690/month while Stuttgart produces approximately $736/month. Rates vary significantly by rank and dependents.
Japan OCONUS COLA ranges from index 102 (Okinawa, Iwakuni) to index 116 (Other Kyoto Prefecture). For an E-5 with 4 YOS and no dependents, Okinawa produces approximately $46/month. Tokyo/Yokosuka/Yokohama (index 110) produces approximately $230/month. Japan's relatively low indices reflect the weaker yen, but rates change with currency fluctuations.
No, OCONUS COLA is completely non-taxable. It does not appear as taxable income on your W-2. This makes it more valuable per dollar than taxable pay — $1,000 in OCONUS COLA is equivalent to roughly $1,300-$1,400 in taxable civilian income depending on your tax bracket.
Yes, but at a reduced rate. Single service members living in government quarters with a meal card receive approximately 63% of the standard COLA rate, since some living expenses are already covered by the government. Those living off-base without dependents receive the full without-dependents rate.
As of January 2026, Switzerland has the highest COLA indices worldwide: Bern at 188, followed by Geneva and Zurich at 176. Iceland (Reykjavik at 166), Denmark (Copenhagen at 164), Bermuda (162), and Hong Kong (160) also rank among the highest. In more common military locations, Munich Germany (156) and Berlin (152) are the highest in Europe.