Approximate Overseas Housing Allowance rates for 29 bases across 6 countries
Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) is a tax-free monthly payment for service members stationed outside the US who live off-base. Unlike BAH (a fixed monthly amount), OHA is a cost-reimbursement — you receive your actual rent up to a maximum ceiling, plus a flat utility allowance.
OHA is for overseas duty stations — it's a cost reimbursement that fluctuates with exchange rates. BAH is for stateside locations — a fixed monthly amount based on rank and ZIP code. If your spouse stays in the US while you're overseas, they receive BAH at their US ZIP code, and you may receive OHA at the without-dependents rate.
Use the BAH Calculator for stateside housing rates, or the Full Compensation Calculator to see how OHA fits into your total military pay package.
Service members stationed overseas may also receive OCONUS COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) to offset higher prices for goods and services. Use the OCONUS COLA Calculator to estimate your monthly COLA for 239 locations across 46 countries.
OHA is a tax-free monthly allowance for military members stationed overseas who live off-base. Unlike BAH, which is a fixed monthly payment, OHA reimburses your actual rent up to a ceiling amount, plus a flat utility allowance. OHA has three components: rental ceiling, utility/recurring maintenance allowance, and a one-time move-in housing allowance (MIHA).
Approximate OHA at Ramstein/KMC Germany for 2026 ranges from ~$2,265/month (E-1 to E-4 with dependents: $1,380 rent + $885 utilities) to ~$3,390/month (O-6 with dependents: $2,505 rent + $885 utilities). An E-5 with dependents receives approximately $2,385/month ($1,500 rent ceiling + $885 utility allowance). Without-dependents rates are approximately 10-25% lower.
OHA in Japan varies significantly by base. With dependents, an E-5 receives approximately $2,730/month at Yokosuka ($2,050 rent + $680 utilities), $2,600/month at Yokota ($1,950 rent + $650 utilities), $2,130/month at Okinawa ($1,550 rent + $580 utilities), and $2,050/month at Sasebo ($1,450 rent + $600 utilities). OHA in Japan fluctuates with the USD/JPY exchange rate.
No, OHA is completely tax-free. Neither the rental ceiling reimbursement nor the utility allowance is taxable. This makes OHA significantly more valuable than equivalent civilian housing costs — $2,400/month in tax-free OHA would require roughly $3,200-$3,500 in pre-tax civilian income to match.
BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) is a fixed monthly amount for stateside duty stations that stays the same all year. OHA (Overseas Housing Allowance) is a cost-reimbursement for overseas stations — you get actual rent up to a ceiling plus utilities. OHA fluctuates with currency exchange rates and can change every pay period. If your spouse stays in the US, they receive BAH at their ZIP code while you may receive OHA at the without-dependents rate overseas.
Yes, OHA rates change frequently because they are set in local currency (euros, yen, won, pounds) but paid in US dollars. When exchange rates shift, your dollar amount changes — sometimes every pay period. The DOD also periodically surveys housing costs and adjusts ceilings. This calculator uses approximate early-2025 exchange rates.