Krakow housing and COLA at a glance
Krakow, Poland (DoD locality PL005).
An E-5 with dependents can rent up to $2,812 a month (10,558 PLN) and receives $893 for utilities and maintenance, $3,706 a month in total OHA at the ceiling. With two dependents and 6 years of service, COLA adds about $293 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 (PLN) |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $2,531 | $2,278 | 9,503 PLN |
| E-2 | $2,531 | $2,278 | 9,503 PLN |
| E-3 | $2,531 | $2,278 | 9,503 PLN |
| E-4 | $2,531 | $2,278 | 9,503 PLN |
| E-5 | $2,812 | $2,531 | 10,558 PLN |
| E-6 | $2,812 | $2,531 | 10,558 PLN |
| E-7 | $2,812 | $2,531 | 10,558 PLN |
| E-8 | $2,812 | $2,531 | 10,558 PLN |
| E-9 | $2,921 | $2,629 | 10,967 PLN |
| W-1 | $2,812 | $2,531 | 10,558 PLN |
| W-2 | $2,812 | $2,531 | 10,558 PLN |
| W-3 | $2,921 | $2,629 | 10,967 PLN |
| W-4 | $2,921 | $2,629 | 10,967 PLN |
| W-5 | $2,921 | $2,629 | 10,967 PLN |
| O-1E | $2,812 | $2,531 | 10,558 PLN |
| O-2E | $2,812 | $2,531 | 10,558 PLN |
| O-3E | $2,921 | $2,629 | 10,967 PLN |
| O-1 | $2,812 | $2,531 | 10,558 PLN |
| O-2 | $2,812 | $2,531 | 10,558 PLN |
| O-3 | $2,812 | $2,531 | 10,558 PLN |
| O-4 | $2,921 | $2,629 | 10,967 PLN |
| O-5 | $2,921 | $2,629 | 10,967 PLN |
| O-6 | $2,921 | $2,629 | 10,967 PLN |
Utilities and move-in
- Utility/recurring maintenance allowance: $893 a month with dependents, $670 without (3,354 PLN with dependents).
- Move-in housing allowance (MIHA) miscellaneous: $494, paid once when you sign a lease (1,853 PLN).
Rent ceilings effective 01 July 2026. Converted at DTMO's pay-system rate of 1 PLN = $0.266361 (August 16, 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 Krakow
The COLA index here is 110 (effective August 16, 2026), meaning goods and services cost about 10% 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) | $264 | $279 | $293 | $308 | $323 |
| E-4 (4 yrs) | $264 | $279 | $293 | $308 | $323 |
| E-5 (6 yrs) | $264 | $279 | $293 | $308 | $323 |
| E-6 (10 yrs) | $264 | $279 | $293 | $308 | $323 |
| E-7 (14 yrs) | $264 | $279 | $293 | $308 | $323 |
| E-8 (18 yrs) | $283 | $298 | $314 | $330 | $346 |
| E-9 (22 yrs) | $319 | $336 | $354 | $372 | $390 |
| W-2 (8 yrs) | $264 | $279 | $293 | $308 | $323 |
| O-2 (3 yrs) | $274 | $289 | $304 | $319 | $335 |
| O-3 (6 yrs) | $301 | $317 | $334 | $351 | $368 |
| O-4 (12 yrs) | $344 | $363 | $383 | $402 | $421 |
| O-5 (18 yrs) | $385 | $406 | $428 | $449 | $470 |
| O-6 (22 yrs) | $422 | $445 | $468 | $492 | $515 |
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 Krakow compares
The COLA index of 110 is the 2nd-highest of 7 Poland localities DTMO prices for OHA, and in the bottom 15% of the 624 locations worldwide that pay COLA.
Its E-5 rent ceiling ranks 1st of 7 in Poland, the highest in the country.
Where the ceiling steps up with rank (with dependents): enlisted $2,531 for E-1 to E-4, $2,812 from E-5 to E-8 (+$281), and $2,921 at E-9 (+$109); officers $2,812 for O-1 to O-3, then $2,921 from O-4 to O-6 (+$109). 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 $3,999 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 112 (March 16, 2026) to 110 (August 16, 2026). At 2026 pay, that is −$59 a month for an E-5 with two dependents.
| Effective | COLA index | E-5, 2 deps* |
|---|---|---|
| August 16, 2026 | 110 | $293 |
| August 1, 2026 | 108 | $235 |
| March 16, 2026 | 112 | $352 |
*Monthly COLA at 2026 base pay (6 years of service), so the column isolates the effect of the index.
Exchange rate: DTMO's pay-system rate was 1 PLN = $0.273269 on July 1, 2026 and $0.266361 on August 16, 2026 (−2.5%). The E-5 ceiling of 10,558 PLN is worth $2,812 today against $2,885 then, so the dollar amount on your LES fell by $73 a month without the ceiling itself changing.
From DTMO's published COLA indices and OHA exchange rates as recorded by this site each pay period.
Other Poland 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Elblag | $1,366 | 110 |
| Lask Air Base | $1,366 | 112 |
| Other (Poland) | $1,382 | 110 |
| Poznan | $1,366 | 110 |
| Szczecin | $1,382 | 110 |
| Warsaw | $2,277 | 110 |
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.