Bahrain housing and COLA at a glance
Bahrain, Bahrain (DoD locality BH001).
An E-5 with dependents can rent up to $2,074 a month (782 BHD) and receives $992 for utilities and maintenance, $3,065 a month in total OHA at the ceiling. With two dependents and 6 years of service, COLA adds about $821 a month. Both are tax-free.
OHA rent ceilings for every grade
OHA reimburses your actual rent up to the ceiling for your grade, so renting below it means a smaller payment, not money kept. Without dependents, the ceiling is 90% of the with-dependents figure.
| Grade | With deps | Without deps | Ceiling (BHD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,867 | $1,680 | 704 BHD |
| E-2 | $1,867 | $1,680 | 704 BHD |
| E-3 | $1,867 | $1,680 | 704 BHD |
| E-4 | $1,867 | $1,680 | 704 BHD |
| E-5 | $2,074 | $1,866 | 782 BHD |
| E-6 | $2,424 | $2,181 | 914 BHD |
| E-7 | $2,424 | $2,181 | 914 BHD |
| E-8 | $2,424 | $2,181 | 914 BHD |
| E-9 | $2,745 | $2,470 | 1,035 BHD |
| W-1 | $2,074 | $1,866 | 782 BHD |
| W-2 | $2,424 | $2,181 | 914 BHD |
| W-3 | $2,745 | $2,470 | 1,035 BHD |
| W-4 | $2,745 | $2,470 | 1,035 BHD |
| W-5 | $2,997 | $2,697 | 1,130 BHD |
| O-1E | $2,424 | $2,181 | 914 BHD |
| O-2E | $2,424 | $2,181 | 914 BHD |
| O-3E | $2,745 | $2,470 | 1,035 BHD |
| O-1 | $2,074 | $1,866 | 782 BHD |
| O-2 | $2,074 | $1,866 | 782 BHD |
| O-3 | $2,424 | $2,181 | 914 BHD |
| O-4 | $2,745 | $2,470 | 1,035 BHD |
| O-5 | $2,997 | $2,697 | 1,130 BHD |
| O-6 | $2,997 | $2,697 | 1,130 BHD |
Utilities and move-in
- Utility/recurring maintenance allowance: $992 a month with dependents, $744 without (374 BHD with dependents).
- Move-in housing allowance (MIHA) miscellaneous: $342, paid once when you sign a lease (129 BHD).
Rent ceilings effective 16 July 2026. Converted at DTMO's pay-system rate of 1 BHD = $2.651816 (October 1, 2022). DTMO revises it on the 1st and 16th of each month, so the dollar amount moves even when the ceiling does not.
COLA in Bahrain
The COLA index here is 128 (effective January 1, 2025), meaning goods and services cost about 28% more than in the U.S. COLA is paid on top of base pay and OHA. Estimated monthly COLA by grade and number of dependents:
| Grade (YOS) | No deps | 1 dep | 2 deps | 3 deps | 4 deps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-3 (2 yrs) | $739 | $780 | $821 | $862 | $903 |
| E-4 (4 yrs) | $739 | $780 | $821 | $862 | $903 |
| E-5 (6 yrs) | $739 | $780 | $821 | $862 | $903 |
| E-6 (10 yrs) | $739 | $780 | $821 | $862 | $903 |
| E-7 (14 yrs) | $739 | $780 | $821 | $862 | $903 |
| E-8 (18 yrs) | $792 | $836 | $880 | $924 | $968 |
| E-9 (22 yrs) | $893 | $942 | $992 | $1,041 | $1,091 |
| W-2 (8 yrs) | $739 | $780 | $821 | $862 | $903 |
| O-2 (3 yrs) | $767 | $809 | $852 | $894 | $937 |
| O-3 (6 yrs) | $842 | $889 | $936 | $982 | $1,029 |
| O-4 (12 yrs) | $964 | $1,017 | $1,071 | $1,125 | $1,178 |
| O-5 (18 yrs) | $1,077 | $1,137 | $1,197 | $1,257 | $1,317 |
| O-6 (22 yrs) | $1,180 | $1,246 | $1,311 | $1,377 | $1,442 |
Estimates use 2026 base pay at the years of service shown and DTMO's spendable-income table (CY2026 tables (effective Feb 1, 2026)). COLA = spendable income × (index − 100) ÷ 100 ÷ 12. Members without dependents living in government quarters receive a reduced rate. Run your exact grade, years of service and dependents in the OCONUS COLA calculator.
How Bahrain compares
The COLA index of 128 is in the top 42% of the 624 locations worldwide that pay COLA.
Where the ceiling steps up with rank (with dependents): enlisted $1,867 for E-1 to E-4, $2,074 at E-5 (+$207), $2,424 from E-6 to E-8 (+$350), and $2,745 at E-9 (+$321); officers $2,074 for O-1 to O-2, $2,424 at O-3 (+$350), $2,745 at O-4 (+$321), and $2,997 from O-5 to O-6 (+$252). A promotion that lands before you sign a lease raises what you can rent.
At the ceiling, an E-5 with two dependents draws about $3,886 a month here in OHA and COLA combined, tax-free. The same member receives $2,061 in BAH at the median U.S. housing area. Treat that as a rough guide: OHA pays your actual rent rather than a flat amount, and COLA exists because everyday prices here run higher.
How these rates have moved
The COLA index has held at 128 since January 1, 2025.
From DTMO's published COLA indices and OHA exchange rates as recorded by this site each pay period.
Using these numbers
- Your exact OHA by grade and dependents: OHA calculator. Your exact COLA: OCONUS COLA calculator.
- Planning the move: PCS calculator for DLA, per diem and weight allowance.
- Coming home: COLA stops the day you leave. The COLA trap shows how to plan for it.
Sources: DTMO OHA rate tables and OCONUS COLA indices, refreshed each pay period. Estimates for planning; your finance office's figure is the one that pays.