One San Antonio Rate Area
The main JBSA installations fall within the San Antonio Military Housing Area, identified as TX285.
San Antonio Military Housing Area TX285
2026 JBSA BAH Rates
Monthly Basic Allowance for Housing rates for JBSA-Lackland, JBSA-Randolph, Fort Sam Houston, and Camp Bullis, organized by pay grade and dependency status.
Rates Effective January 1, 2026
Use BAH As A Planning Number, Not A Purchase-Price Target.
BAH is based on your permanent duty station, pay grade, and whether you have dependents. It is not based on the location of the home you choose. Your comfortable housing payment also needs to account for property taxes, homeowners insurance, HOA dues, utilities, debts, interest rate, and cash reserves.
Two Dependency Categories
BAH uses with-dependents and without-dependents rates. The number of dependents does not change the rate.
Individual Rate Protection
If published rates fall, eligible service members may keep a higher protected rate while their duty station, pay grade, and dependency status remain unchanged.
Verify Before You Commit
Use the official DoD calculator and your servicing finance office to confirm your specific entitlement before signing a lease or purchase contract.
2026 Enlisted JBSA BAH Rates
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,728 | $1,359 |
| E-2 | $1,728 | $1,359 |
| E-3 | $1,728 | $1,359 |
| E-4 | $1,728 | $1,359 |
| E-5 | $1,869 | $1,500 |
| E-6 | $2,094 | $1,596 |
| E-7 | $2,112 | $1,731 |
| E-8 | $2,121 | $1,920 |
| E-9 | $2,157 | $1,977 |
2026 Warrant Officer JBSA BAH Rates
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| W-1 | $2,109 | $1,692 |
| W-2 | $2,118 | $1,917 |
| W-3 | $2,130 | $1,986 |
| W-4 | $2,178 | $2,085 |
| W-5 | $2,280 | $2,097 |
2026 Officer JBSA BAH Rates
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| O-1 | $1,905 | $1,584 |
| O-2 | $2,091 | $1,827 |
| O-3 | $2,127 | $2,007 |
| O-4 | $2,307 | $2,088 |
| O-5 | $2,457 | $2,100 |
| O-6 | $2,475 | $2,103 |
| O-7 and above | $2,490 | $2,112 |
| O-1E | $2,115 | $1,866 |
| O-2E | $2,124 | $1,965 |
| O-3E | $2,196 | $2,082 |
Monthly rates shown for the San Antonio Military Housing Area, TX285. Rate data reviewed July 15, 2026. Confirm your exact entitlement with the official DoD BAH Rate Lookup.
How To Use Your BAH In A San Antonio Home Search
Start with the monthly payment you can comfortably carry, then work backward to a home-price range. Two homes with the same price can have very different payments because Texas property taxes, insurance, HOA dues, and lender terms vary. BAH may help with mortgage qualification, but it does not replace a full pre-approval or a personal budget.
JBSA-Lackland
Compare the west and far west corridors, including Westover Hills, Alamo Ranch, Potranco, Helotes, and nearby communities. Review commute patterns, taxes, and HOA costs alongside the payment. See the Lackland AFB housing guide.
JBSA-Randolph
Universal City, Schertz, Cibolo, Live Oak, Converse, and Selma are common starting points. Newer construction can offer useful choices, but builder incentives and tax estimates need close review. See the Randolph AFB housing guide.
Fort Sam Houston
Commute options vary widely across central, northeast, and north San Antonio. Compare I-35, I-410, and local-road access before narrowing the search. See the Fort Sam Houston housing guide.
Camp Bullis
Northwest San Antonio, Leon Springs, Helotes, Stone Oak, and Boerne offer different tradeoffs in price, commute, taxes, and home style. See the Camp Bullis housing guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all JBSA installations use the same BAH table?
The main JBSA installations are within the San Antonio Military Housing Area, TX285. BAH eligibility is tied to the ZIP code of the permanent duty station, so always verify your orders and official rate.
Does BAH cover the full cost of housing?
Not necessarily. DoD states that BAH is not intended to cover every housing expense. Your actual cost may be higher or lower based on the home, neighborhood, utilities, and personal choices.
What happens if the published BAH rate decreases?
Individual rate protection can prevent an eligible service member from receiving a lower rate while their duty station, pay grade, and dependency status remain unchanged. A PCS, reduction in pay grade, or dependency-status change can affect protection.
Can I use BAH toward a mortgage?
BAH may be considered as income during mortgage qualification. Approval, loan amount, and terms depend on the lender, loan program, credit, debts, assets, occupancy, property, and underwriting requirements.
Official Sources
DoD BAH Rate Lookup for current rates by ZIP code and pay grade. DoD Basic Allowance for Housing guidance for rate protection, dependency categories, and entitlement information.
Turn Your BAH Into A Real Search Plan.
Share your installation, report date, target commute, and property priorities. Velvet Realty Group can help compare neighborhoods and homes after the lender you choose confirms a comfortable range.