BAH Rate for HAMPTON/NEWPORT NEWS, VA

The 2026 BAH rate for HAMPTON/NEWPORT NEWS, VA is $2,274/month for E-5 with dependents. The annual equivalent is $27,288. Rates vary by pay grade — junior enlisted members receive lower rates and senior officers receive higher rates. All rates are effective 2026-01-01.

Service members with dependents (spouse, children, or other qualifying dependents) receive a higher BAH rate than those without. The with-dependents rate is designed to cover median local rental costs for a larger unit. The exact without-dependents rate for HAMPTON/NEWPORT NEWS, VA varies by pay grade — use the DoD BAH Rate Lookup Tool at travel.dod.mil to see both rates side by side.

Yes. BAH is entirely tax-free at the federal and state level. It does not count as taxable income, which means the effective purchasing power of BAH is greater than an equivalent taxable wage increase. This applies to active duty, activated Guard, and activated Reserve members.

BAH eligibility covers all active-duty pay grades from E-1 through O-10, as well as warrant officers (W-1 through W-5). Rates increase with pay grade. E-1 without dependents receives the lowest rate; O-10 with dependents receives the highest. Cadets and midshipmen at service academies are not eligible.

Yes, when ordered to active duty for more than 30 days. Guard and Reserve members on Title 10 orders (federal active duty) receive BAH at the same rates as their active-duty counterparts. Members on Title 32 AGR (Active Guard Reserve) orders also qualify. Weekend drill (IDT) and annual training of 30 days or fewer do not qualify.

BAH rates are recalculated annually by the DoD Defense Travel Management Office using local rental market surveys. New rates take effect January 1 each year. The 2026 rates shown on this page are current as of 2026-01-01. BAH is designed to cover approximately 95% of median local rental costs for your pay grade.

BAH is paid at a flat rate — it does not increase if you choose housing that costs more than the BAH amount. Conversely, if you find housing below your BAH rate, you keep the difference. This creates an incentive to find cost-effective housing. BAH is not a reimbursement; it is a pay entitlement.

Yes, with limitations. During a permanent change of station (PCS), you may receive BAH at your old duty station for up to 60 days while your dependents continue to reside there. Once your dependents relocate to the new duty station area, your BAH transitions to the new location rate. Temporary lodging entitlements (TLE) may also apply during the transition period.