LEAKED: 2026 BAH RATES SHOW 4.2% AVERAGE INCREASE (SEE THE NUMBERS)

The 2026 BAH tables briefly appeared on the Defense Travel Management Office’s (DTMO) website on December 10th, using the same format and methodology as previous years. The document was quickly removed. The figures should be considered provisional, as they are not officially confirmed. The leaked data showed a nationwide average increase of about 4.19% for 2026 BAH.

What the Leaked 2026 BAH Data Revealed

The provisionally visible tables showed a national average increase of about 4.19% across all pay grades. These numbers aligned with typical BAH behavior: locality-driven, hyper-specific adjustments reflecting rental market changes observed throughout 2025. As this data is not final, all figures should be considered subject to revision.

For families, the leaked data offered a first glimpse of what 2026 could look like for PCS budgets, lease renewals, rental competitiveness, and neighborhood affordability. And even if provisional, the numbers paint a clear and familiar picture: most MHAs appear to trend upward, while a smaller share shows decreases or flat years.

What the Leak Showed for E-6 With Dependents Across 337 MHAs

Among MHAs that appeared in both the 2025 and provisionally leaked 2026 tables, the provisional figures showed that E-6s with dependents saw the largest percentage increases in mid-sized markets, regional hubs, and certain tourism-driven areas that have experienced tightening rental conditions as of late.

If accurate, these figures indicate another year where most mid-grade families would see some level of increase, though not uniformly, and not without outliers.

Where the Leaked BAH Numbers Jumped the Most

The provisionally removed tables show that E-6s with dependents saw the largest percentage increases in mid-sized markets, regional hubs, and certain tourism-driven areas with tightening rental conditions in recent years.

Notable provisional double-digit increases appeared in locations such as:

• Mid-Atlantic commuter belts that have experienced sustained rental demand
• Certain Southeastern regional centers that have experienced constrained inventory in the past
• Midwestern metros where multifamily vacancy tightened over the last couple of years

Many of these areas saw demand spikes and limited inventory, often leading to rapid BAH adjustments once DoD’s annual models responded. If the leak is accurate, families already in these MHAs could receive increases to help offset recent rent growth.

Where the Leaked Numbers Showed Decreases

The leaked tables also showed decreases in several MHAs, most notably in high-cost tourist markets and fast-growing Sun Belt cities, whose rental prices appear to have cooled relative to previous DoD data cycles.

Notable provisional decreases included:

• Maui County, HI
• Springfield/Decatur, IL
• Robins AFB, GA
• Brownsville, TX
• Florida Keys, FL
• Phoenix, AZ
• Mountain Home AFB, ID
• Twenty-Nine Palms MCB, CA
• Spokane, WA
• Corpus Christi, TX

For families already stationed in these MHAs, the DoD’s longstanding rate-protection policy would still apply: BAH does not go down mid-tour. New arrivals in 2026 would be affected by the lower values if these provisional numbers are ultimately confirmed.

Where Rates Stayed Flat

Very few MHAs appeared unchanged in the leaked data: Montgomery, West Palm Beach, Memphis, and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.

Flat BAH signals markets where DoD’s model projected stable median rental costs, though it does not mean rent itself is flat.

The Biggest Dollar Changes Families Would Feel

From the limited data available, the largest dollar increases for an E-6 with dependents occurred in Northern New Jersey, the Outer Banks, Chicago, Birmingham, and Juneau, ranging from roughly $300 to more than $400 a month.

The largest dollar decreases, again provisional, appeared in Maui County, the Florida Keys, Twenty-Nine Palms, Phoenix, and Mountain Home AFB. For newcomers, the difference between the 2025 and provisional 2026 rates could meaningfully shift housing affordability.

What This Leak Suggests About 2026 BAH Trends

Even though the data is provisional, the patterns are clear and consistent with BAH behavior over the past decade:

• Double-digit gains are concentrated in smaller markets experiencing sharp rent growth.
• Provisional decreases are clustered in vacation markets and cooling Sun Belt metros.
• Rate protection remains one of the strongest safeguards for families already stationed at their duty locations.

These trends align with DoD’s typical BAH methodology, which aims to cover about 95% of estimated median rental and utility costs for each pay grade and MHA.

How BAH Works in 2026: What Families Should Keep in Mind

Regardless of the leak, the rules shaping your housing allowance remain the same:

• Rate protection prevents decreases for families already stationed at a location.
• Increases apply to everyone, newcomers, and current residents.
• BAH is based on rental markets, not home prices.
• Your BAH is tied to your duty station, not where you choose to live.
• PCS timing matters; arriving before or after January 1 can lock you into different tables.
• MHAs are hyper-local; two cities in the same state can differ by more than $1,000 per month.

What Service Members and Families Should Do Now

Until DTMO officially reposts the 2026 BAH tables, treat these numbers as a provisional preview, not a guarantee.

MyBaseGuide and MilSpouses will continue monitoring DTMO for the formal release. Once the official 2026 BAH tables are republished, we will update this piece with confirmed numbers, complete tables, and installation-specific breakdowns.

Suggested reads:

• PCS House Hunting: Tips For Finding a Home
• The New Duty Station Rankings For 2026: Where Troops Want to Go, and Where They Don't
• The Army-Navy Game: A Tradition of Rivalry, Honor, and Brotherhood