Updated for 2026
2026 BAH rates for San Antonio — and what they actually buy
Every pay grade for the JBSA military housing area, with and without dependents, effective January 1, 2026 — then the part the table doesn't tell you: what that number means against real San Antonio homes.
Turn BAH Into a BudgetThe Numbers
Enlisted
Monthly rates for the San Antonio, TX military housing area (source: Defense Travel Management Office, effective January 1, 2026). 2026 rates fell roughly 2.9% from 2025; existing recipients are rate-protected.
| Pay grade | With dependents | Without dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 to 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 |
Warrant Officer
| 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 |
Officer
| 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-1E | $2,115 | $1,866 |
| O-2E | $2,124 | $1,965 |
| O-3E | $2,196 | $2,082 |
O-1E/O-2E/O-3E = officers with prior enlisted service. Verify your exact situation at the DTMO calculator; rates shown are for the San Antonio MHA.
Buying Power
What the allowance means in this market
San Antonio remains one of the most affordable major metros in Texas, which is why BAH stretches further here than at most duty stations. As rough 2026 guideposts with a zero-down VA loan — after Texas property taxes (often 2-2.5% of value) and insurance are folded in — E-1 through E-4 budgets support purchases around $200K-$240K, E-5 roughly $220K-$280K, E-6 and E-7 into the low $300Ks, and O-3 and above from the low $300Ks up. Dual incomes move every one of those numbers meaningfully.
Those bands map to real inventory: Converse, Live Oak, and the Potranco corridor for entry budgets; Universal City, Schertz, and Westover Hills in the middle; Cibolo, Alamo Ranch, and the north side beyond. Start from your gate: Lackland, Randolph, Fort Sam Houston, or Camp Bullis.
The financing side of the equation — funding fees, entitlement, BAH as qualifying income — lives in the VA loan guide.
Common Questions
BAH in San Antonio, answered
Did BAH go up or down for San Antonio in 2026?
Down. The 2026 JBSA rates dropped about 2.9% from 2025, against a national average increase — a reflection of San Antonio rents cooling. If you were already receiving BAH here in 2025, rate protection grandfathers you at the higher rate as long as your status is unchanged.
Does BAH count as income for a VA loan?
Yes — lenders count BAH as effective, non-taxable income when qualifying you, and because it is untaxed, many lenders "gross it up" for qualification purposes. This is the mechanism that turns a housing allowance into buying power.
What does E-5 BAH actually buy in San Antonio in 2026?
At $1,869/month with dependents: on the buy side, a realistic VA-loan purchase in roughly the $220K-$280K range once Texas property taxes and insurance are included — which covers real single-family inventory in Converse, the Potranco corridor, Live Oak, and parts of Westover Hills. On the rent side, a 3-4 bedroom home in most military corridors.
Is it smarter to pocket the BAH difference or buy up to the full allowance?
It depends on the assignment. Buying below your BAH banks the difference monthly; buying at your BAH maximizes the asset you carry out of the assignment. We will run both scenarios for your timeline rather than defaulting to the bigger house.
Do these rates apply to all four JBSA installations?
Yes — Lackland, Randolph, Fort Sam Houston, and Camp Bullis all fall under the same San Antonio military housing area, so the rate table is identical regardless of which gate you report to.
Want the math done for your rank and timeline?
We translate your BAH, entitlement, and report date into a real price band — and a straight answer on whether buying or renting wins for this assignment.