With a VA loan — no down payment, no PMI — your monthly BAH can go toward a mortgage instead of a landlord's pocket. The median home near MacDill AFB runs about $340,562.

Run the rent-vs-buy numbers for MacDill AFB →

All MacDill AFB BAH Rates by Pay Grade

Pay Grade	With Dependents	Without Dependents
Enlisted
E-1	$2,520	$1,932
E-2	$2,520	$1,932
E-3	$2,520	$1,932
E-4	$2,520	$1,932
E-5	$2,709	$2,187
E-6	$3,042	$2,346
E-7	$3,066	$2,526
E-8	$3,075	$2,781
E-9	$3,123	$2,874
Warrant Officer
W-1	$3,063	$2,463
W-2	$3,072	$2,778
W-3	$3,084	$2,886
W-4	$3,141	$3,039
W-5	$3,231	$3,054
Officer (Prior Enlisted)
O-1E (Prior Enlisted)	$3,069	$2,706
O-2E (Prior Enlisted)	$3,078	$2,853
O-3E (Prior Enlisted)	$3,156	$3,036
Officer
O-1	$2,757	$2,328
O-2	$3,039	$2,649
O-3	$3,081	$2,919
O-4	$3,255	$3,042
O-5	$3,390	$3,057
O-6	$3,417	$3,060
O-7	$3,441	$3,102

Official 2026 BAH rates for the TAMPA, FL Military Housing Area, effective January 1, 2026.

About MacDill AFB

The cost of getting to work is an overlooked expense, which is often felt as a burden for military families who are forced to live off base. The White House Military Spouse Commission has shed light on the out-of-pocket expense and has taken the initiative to brainstorm how to relieve this pressure on the families serving our nation. The Military Spouse Commission is considering using the piloted program at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, as a potential model to expand toll relief for service members, including active duty and active Reserve members.

Under the MacDill program, eligible members can receive a 50% reduction in qualifying toll fees, with savings reported up to $1,500 annually for commuters who are forced to live off base due to different circumstances and need to u...

Read the full MacDill AFB guide →