Fairford housing and COLA at a glance
Fairford (E), United Kingdom (DoD locality GB251). DTMO files these places under the same locality, so the same rates apply: Barford ST. John, Bicester, Donnington, Little Rissington, Lyneham, RAF Brize Norton, Swindon, Upper Heyford.
An E-5 with dependents can rent up to $2,724 a month (1,972 GBP) and receives $1,148 for utilities and maintenance, $3,872 a month in total OHA at the ceiling. With two dependents and 6 years of service, COLA adds about $763 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 (GBP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $2,299 | $2,069 | 1,664 GBP |
| E-2 | $2,299 | $2,069 | 1,664 GBP |
| E-3 | $2,299 | $2,069 | 1,664 GBP |
| E-4 | $2,299 | $2,069 | 1,664 GBP |
| E-5 | $2,724 | $2,452 | 1,972 GBP |
| E-6 | $3,122 | $2,810 | 2,260 GBP |
| E-7 | $3,122 | $2,810 | 2,260 GBP |
| E-8 | $3,122 | $2,810 | 2,260 GBP |
| E-9 | $3,799 | $3,419 | 2,750 GBP |
| W-1 | $2,724 | $2,452 | 1,972 GBP |
| W-2 | $3,122 | $2,810 | 2,260 GBP |
| W-3 | $3,799 | $3,419 | 2,750 GBP |
| W-4 | $3,799 | $3,419 | 2,750 GBP |
| W-5 | $3,799 | $3,419 | 2,750 GBP |
| O-1E | $3,122 | $2,810 | 2,260 GBP |
| O-2E | $3,122 | $2,810 | 2,260 GBP |
| O-3E | $3,799 | $3,419 | 2,750 GBP |
| O-1 | $2,724 | $2,452 | 1,972 GBP |
| O-2 | $2,724 | $2,452 | 1,972 GBP |
| O-3 | $3,122 | $2,810 | 2,260 GBP |
| O-4 | $3,799 | $3,419 | 2,750 GBP |
| O-5 | $3,799 | $3,419 | 2,750 GBP |
| O-6 | $3,799 | $3,419 | 2,750 GBP |
Utilities and move-in
- Utility/recurring maintenance allowance: $1,148 a month with dependents, $861 without (831 GBP with dependents).
- Move-in housing allowance (MIHA) miscellaneous: $693, paid once when you sign a lease (502 GBP).
Rent ceilings effective 16 July 2026. Converted at DTMO's pay-system rate of 1 GBP = $1.381406 (October 1, 2026). DTMO revises it on the 1st and 16th of each month, so the dollar amount moves even when the ceiling does not.
COLA in Fairford
The COLA index here is 126 (effective July 1, 2026), meaning goods and services cost about 26% 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) | $686 | $725 | $763 | $801 | $839 |
| E-4 (4 yrs) | $686 | $725 | $763 | $801 | $839 |
| E-5 (6 yrs) | $686 | $725 | $763 | $801 | $839 |
| E-6 (10 yrs) | $686 | $725 | $763 | $801 | $839 |
| E-7 (14 yrs) | $686 | $725 | $763 | $801 | $839 |
| E-8 (18 yrs) | $735 | $776 | $817 | $858 | $899 |
| E-9 (22 yrs) | $829 | $875 | $921 | $967 | $1,013 |
| W-2 (8 yrs) | $686 | $725 | $763 | $801 | $839 |
| O-2 (3 yrs) | $712 | $751 | $791 | $830 | $870 |
| O-3 (6 yrs) | $782 | $825 | $869 | $912 | $956 |
| O-4 (12 yrs) | $895 | $945 | $995 | $1,044 | $1,094 |
| O-5 (18 yrs) | $1,000 | $1,056 | $1,112 | $1,167 | $1,223 |
| O-6 (22 yrs) | $1,096 | $1,157 | $1,218 | $1,279 | $1,339 |
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 Fairford compares
The COLA index of 126 is the 21st-highest of 27 United Kingdom localities DTMO prices for OHA, and in the bottom 48% of the 624 locations worldwide that pay COLA.
Its E-5 rent ceiling ranks 5th of 27 in United Kingdom.
Where the ceiling steps up with rank (with dependents): enlisted $2,299 for E-1 to E-4, $2,724 at E-5 (+$425), $3,122 from E-6 to E-8 (+$398), and $3,799 at E-9 (+$677); officers $2,724 for O-1 to O-2, $3,122 at O-3 (+$398), and $3,799 from O-4 to O-6 (+$677). 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 $4,635 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 moved from 128 (January 1, 2026) to 126 (July 1, 2026). At 2026 pay, that is −$58 a month for an E-5 with two dependents.
| Effective | COLA index | E-5, 2 deps* |
|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2026 | 126 | $763 |
| June 1, 2026 | 128 | $821 |
| April 16, 2026 | 124 | $704 |
| January 1, 2026 | 128 | $821 |
*Monthly COLA at 2026 base pay (6 years of service), so the column isolates the effect of the index.
From DTMO's published COLA indices and OHA exchange rates as recorded by this site each pay period.
Other United Kingdom localities
E-5 with dependents. Your OHA follows the locality of your duty station, so these apply only if you are assigned there.
| Locality | OHA rent ceiling | COLA index |
|---|---|---|
| Aldermaston | $2,241 | 130 |
| Bath | $2,072 | 142 |
| Cambridge | $2,685 | 124 |
| Cheltenham | $2,341 | 130 |
| Harrogate/Menwith Hill | $2,303 | 132 |
| Helston | $1,450 | 130 |
| High Wycombe/Daws Hill | $2,625 | 130 |
| London, United Kingdom | $4,451 | 144 |
| Other England (United Kingdom) | $2,680 | 130 |
| Oxford | $3,730 | 120 |
| Plymouth | $1,865 | 130 |
| Portland | $1,865 | 130 |
| Portsmouth | $1,841 | 130 |
| RAF Alconbury | $2,141 | 130 |
| RAF Croughton | $2,872 | 120 |
| RAF Digby | $2,003 | 130 |
| RAF Lakenheath & Mildenhall | $2,328 | 124 |
| Rochester | $1,144 | 130 |
| Salisbury/Wilton MOD Housing (E) 16,19/ | $1,006 | 132 |
| Salisbury/Wilton Non-Mod Housing | $1,741 | 132 |
| Scotland | $3,166 | 132 |
| St Mawgan MOD Housing (E) 17,19/ | $967 | 118 |
| St Mawgan Non-Mod Housing | $1,264 | 118 |
| Wales | $1,450 | 132 |
| Welford | $2,210 | 130 |
Plus 1 more in the United Kingdom list.
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.