Ponce housing and COLA at a glance
Ponce (incl FT Allen & Camp Santiago), Puerto Rico (DoD locality PR065). DTMO files these places under the same locality, so the same rates apply: FT Allen, Camp Santiago, FT. Allen.
An E-5 with dependents can rent up to $1,800 a month and receives $1,223 for utilities and maintenance, $3,023 a month in total OHA at the ceiling. With two dependents and 6 years of service, COLA adds about $528 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 |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,550 | $1,395 |
| E-2 | $1,550 | $1,395 |
| E-3 | $1,550 | $1,395 |
| E-4 | $1,550 | $1,395 |
| E-5 | $1,800 | $1,620 |
| E-6 | $2,000 | $1,800 |
| E-7 | $2,000 | $1,800 |
| E-8 | $2,000 | $1,800 |
| E-9 | $2,000 | $1,800 |
| W-1 | $1,800 | $1,620 |
| W-2 | $2,000 | $1,800 |
| W-3 | $2,000 | $1,800 |
| W-4 | $2,000 | $1,800 |
| W-5 | $2,000 | $1,800 |
| O-1E | $2,000 | $1,800 |
| O-2E | $2,000 | $1,800 |
| O-3E | $2,000 | $1,800 |
| O-1 | $1,800 | $1,620 |
| O-2 | $1,800 | $1,620 |
| O-3 | $2,000 | $1,800 |
| O-4 | $2,000 | $1,800 |
| O-5 | $2,000 | $1,800 |
| O-6 | $2,000 | $1,800 |
Utilities and move-in
- Utility/recurring maintenance allowance: $1,223 a month with dependents, $917 without.
- Move-in housing allowance (MIHA) miscellaneous: $1,406, paid once when you sign a lease.
Rent ceilings effective 01 July 2026. Published in U.S. dollars, so payments do not move with exchange rates.
COLA in Ponce
The COLA index here is 118 (effective May 16, 2025), meaning goods and services cost about 18% 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) | $475 | $502 | $528 | $554 | $581 |
| E-4 (4 yrs) | $475 | $502 | $528 | $554 | $581 |
| E-5 (6 yrs) | $475 | $502 | $528 | $554 | $581 |
| E-6 (10 yrs) | $475 | $502 | $528 | $554 | $581 |
| E-7 (14 yrs) | $475 | $502 | $528 | $554 | $581 |
| E-8 (18 yrs) | $509 | $537 | $566 | $594 | $622 |
| E-9 (22 yrs) | $574 | $606 | $638 | $669 | $701 |
| W-2 (8 yrs) | $475 | $502 | $528 | $554 | $581 |
| O-2 (3 yrs) | $493 | $520 | $548 | $575 | $602 |
| O-3 (6 yrs) | $541 | $571 | $602 | $632 | $662 |
| O-4 (12 yrs) | $620 | $654 | $689 | $723 | $757 |
| O-5 (18 yrs) | $693 | $731 | $770 | $808 | $846 |
| O-6 (22 yrs) | $759 | $801 | $843 | $885 | $927 |
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 Ponce compares
The COLA index of 118 is the 4th-highest of 18 Puerto Rico localities DTMO prices for OHA, and in the bottom 31% of the 624 locations worldwide that pay COLA.
Its E-5 rent ceiling ranks 15th of 18 in Puerto Rico.
Where the ceiling steps up with rank (with dependents): enlisted $1,550 for E-1 to E-4, $1,800 at E-5 (+$250), and $2,000 from E-6 to E-9 (+$200); officers $1,800 for O-1 to O-2, then $2,000 from O-3 to O-6 (+$200). 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 $3,551 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 118 since May 16, 2025.
From DTMO's published COLA indices and OHA exchange rates as recorded by this site each pay period.
Other Puerto Rico 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aguadilla | $2,900 | 118 |
| Arecibo | $1,800 | 118 |
| Caguas | $1,900 | 118 |
| Cayey | $1,900 | 118 |
| Ceibas | $1,875 | 118 |
| Fajardo | $1,950 | 118 |
| Guayama | $1,700 | 118 |
| Guaynabo | $2,200 | 124 |
| Humacao | $1,950 | 118 |
| Isabela | $1,800 | 118 |
| Luquillo | $2,006 | 118 |
| Mayaguez | $2,163 | 118 |
| Other (Puerto Rico) | $1,875 | 118 |
| Roosevelt Roads | $2,000 | 118 |
| Sabana Seca | $1,900 | 124 |
| San Juan | $2,222 | 124 |
| Vega Baja | $2,000 | 118 |
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.