2026 BAH Rates in Louisiana – ZIP Code Housing Allowance
The 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates in Louisiana are now published. These tax-free monthly housing allowances help active-duty military members cover rent and living expenses when living off base. Whether you’re stationed at Fort Johnson, Barksdale AFB, or NAS JRB New Orleans, you’ll find your updated 2026 rates below.
Louisiana BAH rates increased modestly in 2026, especially near Shreveport, Belle Chasse, and Leesville. For national trends, visit our military BAH update page, or check out our Louisiana VA loan guide.
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Explore More BAH Insights
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2026 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) Rates by City
Official 2026 tables by city and MHA -
How BAH Affects VA Loan Buying Power
How allowance converts to qualifying income and price -
Military Housing Allowance (MHA) vs. BAH
Terminology and usage across DoD and lenders -
How Dual Military Couples Combine BAH for a VA Loan
Categories, documentation, and joint approvals -
Using BAH After Active Duty for a VA Loan
Eligibility paths, timing, documentation after separation -
Top 10 Military Cities with the Highest BAH
Markets with strong allowances and typical housing costs -
BAH Reserve and Transient Rates for 2026
Reserve component and partial month quick reference -
BAH vs PITI Mortgage Coverage
Define coverage and calculate safe payment buffers -
BAH VA Loan Buy or Rent PCS
Choose ownership or leasing around PCS timelines -
BAH Gross Up VA Loan Buying Power
How lenders adjust non taxable income and DTI impact
What is the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)?
BAH is a monthly, tax-free housing benefit for military personnel living off base. It helps cover rent and utilities and is adjusted annually based on local housing markets. In Louisiana, BAH supports military families near major installations like Fort Johnson, Barksdale Air Force Base, and NAS JRB New Orleans.
How BAH Rates Are Calculated
- Location: ZIP codes like 71446 (Leesville), 71110 (Bossier City), and 70037 (Belle Chasse) have unique housing cost data.
- Rank: Higher ranks receive larger BAH amounts.
- Dependents: Service members with dependents qualify for higher rates.
How to Read the BAH Charts
- Locate your assigned ZIP code or base
- Find your rank/pay grade (e.g., E-6, O-2)
- Check your rate with or without dependents
How to Use Your BAH to Buy a Home
Rather than renting off base, many military families in Louisiana use their BAH to purchase a home through the VA loan program. In areas like Shreveport, Slidell, and Baton Rouge, your allowance might be enough to cover a mortgage payment entirely.
VA loan benefits include:
Whether you’re stationed at Fort Johnson or retiring in the Bayou State, putting your BAH toward homeownership is a powerful financial move.
Louisiana Housing Costs & BAH Impact
Louisiana’s rental market varies widely, with lower costs in areas like Leesville and Monroe, and higher prices in New Orleans and Bossier City. In 2026, BAH rates rose slightly to match housing demand near Fort Johnson, Barksdale AFB, and NAS JRB New Orleans. In most regions, BAH covers the full cost of rent — with some areas even allowing service members to save or invest the remainder.
ALEXANDRIA, LA BAH Rates
Military Housing Area: LA113
| Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E01 | $1,182 | $939 |
| E02 | $1,182 | $939 |
| E03 | $1,182 | $939 |
| E04 | $1,182 | $939 |
| E05 | $1,194 | $1,080 |
| E06 | $1,536 | $1,170 |
| E07 | $1,644 | $1,233 |
| E08 | $1,758 | $1,320 |
| E09 | $1,932 | $1,449 |
| W01 | $1,557 | $1,194 |
| W02 | $1,692 | $1,269 |
| W03 | $1,836 | $1,452 |
| W04 | $1,971 | $1,557 |
| W05 | $2,133 | $1,671 |
| O01E | $1,662 | $1,248 |
| O02E | $1,815 | $1,362 |
| O03E | $1,992 | $1,530 |
| O01 | $1,242 | $1,167 |
| O02 | $1,533 | $1,236 |
| O03 | $1,833 | $1,455 |
| O04 | $2,190 | $1,647 |
| O05 | $2,439 | $1,830 |
| O06 | $2,460 | $1,845 |
| O07 | $2,478 | $1,860 |
BAH for ALEXANDRIA, LA includes the following zip codes: 71301, 71302, 71303, 71306, 71307, 71309, 71315, 71325, 71328, 71330, 71346, 71348, 71359, 71360, 71361, 71365, 71405, 71409, 71424, 71427, 71430, 71431, 71433, 71438, 71447, 71448, 71455, 71466, 71472, 71477, 71485
BATON ROUGE, LA BAH Rates
Military Housing Area: LA114
| Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E01 | $1,728 | $1,368 |
| E02 | $1,728 | $1,368 |
| E03 | $1,728 | $1,368 |
| E04 | $1,728 | $1,368 |
| E05 | $1,839 | $1,521 |
| E06 | $2,118 | $1,620 |
| E07 | $2,142 | $1,728 |
| E08 | $2,163 | $1,899 |
| E09 | $2,271 | $1,974 |
| W01 | $2,136 | $1,701 |
| W02 | $2,151 | $1,896 |
| W03 | $2,187 | $1,986 |
| W04 | $2,304 | $2,115 |
| W05 | $2,454 | $2,145 |
| O01E | $2,145 | $1,836 |
| O02E | $2,178 | $1,956 |
| O03E | $2,325 | $2,109 |
| O01 | $1,881 | $1,611 |
| O02 | $2,115 | $1,806 |
| O03 | $2,184 | $2,013 |
| O04 | $2,502 | $2,133 |
| O05 | $2,730 | $2,148 |
| O06 | $2,754 | $2,163 |
| O07 | $2,775 | $2,202 |
BAH for BATON ROUGE, LA includes the following zip codes: 70346, 70449, 70462, 70704, 70706, 70707, 70710, 70711, 70714, 70718, 70719, 70725, 70726, 70727, 70728, 70729, 70733, 70734, 70737, 70738, 70739, 70744, 70754, 70767, 70769, 70770, 70774, 70778, 70785, 70786, 70791, 70801, 70802, 70803, 70804, 70805, 70806, 70807, 70808, 70809, 70810, 70811, 70812, 70813, 70814, 70815, 70816, 70817, 70818, 70819, 70820, 70821, 70822, 70823, 70825, 70826, 70827, 70831, 70833, 70835, 70836, 70837, 70873, 70874, 70879, 70884, 70891, 70892, 70893, 70894, 70895, 70896, 70898
FORT JOHNSON, LA BAH Rates
Military Housing Area: LA115
| Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E01 | $1,131 | $885 |
| E02 | $1,131 | $885 |
| E03 | $1,131 | $885 |
| E04 | $1,131 | $885 |
| E05 | $1,203 | $987 |
| E06 | $1,668 | $1,251 |
| E07 | $1,722 | $1,293 |
| E08 | $1,773 | $1,329 |
| E09 | $1,866 | $1,434 |
| W01 | $1,689 | $1,266 |
| W02 | $1,743 | $1,308 |
| W03 | $1,809 | $1,452 |
| W04 | $1,893 | $1,677 |
| W05 | $1,998 | $1,731 |
| O01E | $1,725 | $1,293 |
| O02E | $1,800 | $1,404 |
| O03E | $1,905 | $1,662 |
| O01 | $1,266 | $1,095 |
| O02 | $1,665 | $1,296 |
| O03 | $1,806 | $1,500 |
| O04 | $2,031 | $1,716 |
| O05 | $2,187 | $1,740 |
| O06 | $2,205 | $1,788 |
| O07 | $2,217 | $1,818 |
BAH for FORT JOHNSON, LA includes the following zip codes: 70634, 70637, 70639, 70652, 70653, 70656, 70657, 70659, 70660, 70662, 71002, 71031, 71066, 71403, 71411, 71414, 71416, 71428, 71434, 71439, 71443, 71446, 71450, 71452, 71456, 71457, 71458, 71459, 71461, 71468, 71469, 71474, 71475, 71496, 71497
NEW ORLEANS, LA BAH Rates
Military Housing Area: LA116
| Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E01 | $1,725 | $1,293 |
| E02 | $1,725 | $1,293 |
| E03 | $1,725 | $1,293 |
| E04 | $1,725 | $1,293 |
| E05 | $1,854 | $1,476 |
| E06 | $2,301 | $1,725 |
| E07 | $2,367 | $1,776 |
| E08 | $2,433 | $1,947 |
| E09 | $2,568 | $2,076 |
| W01 | $2,322 | $1,743 |
| W02 | $2,394 | $1,944 |
| W03 | $2,481 | $2,094 |
| W04 | $2,604 | $2,313 |
| W05 | $2,757 | $2,382 |
| O01E | $2,373 | $1,851 |
| O02E | $2,469 | $2,046 |
| O03E | $2,625 | $2,295 |
| O01 | $1,914 | $1,593 |
| O02 | $2,298 | $1,815 |
| O03 | $2,478 | $2,139 |
| O04 | $2,808 | $2,364 |
| O05 | $3,042 | $2,397 |
| O06 | $3,069 | $2,460 |
| O07 | $3,093 | $2,505 |
BAH for NEW ORLEANS, LA includes the following zip codes: 39520, 39522, 39529, 39572, 39576, 70001, 70002, 70003, 70004, 70005, 70006, 70009, 70010, 70011, 70032, 70033, 70036, 70037, 70038, 70040, 70041, 70043, 70044, 70050, 70053, 70054, 70055, 70056, 70058, 70059, 70060, 70062, 70063, 70064, 70065, 70067, 70072, 70073, 70075, 70081, 70082, 70083, 70085, 70091, 70092, 70093, 70094, 70096, 70097, 70112, 70113, 70114, 70115, 70116, 70117, 70118, 70119, 70121, 70122, 70123, 70124, 70125, 70126, 70127, 70128, 70129, 70130, 70131, 70139, 70141, 70142, 70143, 70145, 70146, 70148, 70150, 70151, 70152, 70153, 70154, 70156, 70157, 70158, 70159, 70160, 70161, 70162, 70163, 70164, 70165, 70166, 70167, 70170, 70172, 70174, 70175, 70176, 70177, 70178, 70179, 70181, 70182, 70183, 70184, 70185, 70186, 70187, 70189, 70190, 70195, 70358, 70420, 70431, 70433, 70434, 70435, 70437, 70445, 70447, 70448, 70452, 70457, 70458, 70459, 70460, 70461, 70463, 70464, 70469, 70470, 70471
SHREVEPORT/BARKSDALE AFB, LA BAH Rates
Military Housing Area: LA117
| Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E01 | $1,545 | $1,161 |
| E02 | $1,545 | $1,161 |
| E03 | $1,545 | $1,161 |
| E04 | $1,545 | $1,161 |
| E05 | $1,674 | $1,320 |
| E06 | $1,920 | $1,437 |
| E07 | $1,977 | $1,545 |
| E08 | $2,037 | $1,728 |
| E09 | $2,163 | $1,791 |
| W01 | $1,938 | $1,512 |
| W02 | $2,004 | $1,725 |
| W03 | $2,082 | $1,803 |
| W04 | $2,199 | $1,926 |
| W05 | $2,343 | $1,992 |
| O01E | $1,983 | $1,671 |
| O02E | $2,070 | $1,776 |
| O03E | $2,217 | $1,911 |
| O01 | $1,710 | $1,410 |
| O02 | $1,917 | $1,635 |
| O03 | $2,079 | $1,827 |
| O04 | $2,391 | $1,974 |
| O05 | $2,610 | $2,004 |
| O06 | $2,631 | $2,061 |
| O07 | $2,652 | $2,097 |
BAH for SHREVEPORT/BARKSDALE AFB, LA includes the following zip codes: 71004, 71006, 71007, 71009, 71029, 71033, 71037, 71043, 71044, 71047, 71051, 71060, 71061, 71064, 71067, 71069, 71082, 71101, 71102, 71103, 71104, 71105, 71106, 71107, 71108, 71109, 71110, 71111, 71112, 71113, 71115, 71118, 71119, 71120, 71129, 71130, 71133, 71134, 71135, 71136, 71137, 71138, 71148, 71149, 71150, 71151, 71152, 71153, 71154, 71156, 71161, 71162, 71163, 71164, 71165, 71166, 71171, 71172
LAFAYETTE, LA BAH Rates
Military Housing Area: LA118
| Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E01 | $1,530 | $1,155 |
| E02 | $1,530 | $1,155 |
| E03 | $1,530 | $1,155 |
| E04 | $1,530 | $1,155 |
| E05 | $1,656 | $1,311 |
| E06 | $1,785 | $1,410 |
| E07 | $1,896 | $1,533 |
| E08 | $2,019 | $1,689 |
| E09 | $2,178 | $1,713 |
| W01 | $1,800 | $1,497 |
| W02 | $1,947 | $1,686 |
| W03 | $2,100 | $1,722 |
| W04 | $2,211 | $1,803 |
| W05 | $2,346 | $1,923 |
| O01E | $1,914 | $1,653 |
| O02E | $2,079 | $1,707 |
| O03E | $2,229 | $1,773 |
| O01 | $1,680 | $1,401 |
| O02 | $1,782 | $1,620 |
| O03 | $2,094 | $1,734 |
| O04 | $2,391 | $1,899 |
| O05 | $2,598 | $1,965 |
| O06 | $2,619 | $2,082 |
| O07 | $2,640 | $2,118 |
BAH for LAFAYETTE, LA includes the following zip codes: 70380, 70501, 70502, 70503, 70504, 70505, 70506, 70507, 70508, 70509, 70513, 70517, 70518, 70519, 70520, 70521, 70529, 70544, 70552, 70558, 70560, 70562, 70563, 70569, 70582, 70583, 70592, 70593, 70596, 70598
LAKE CHARLES, LA BAH Rates
Military Housing Area: LA370
| Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E01 | $1,254 | $1,026 |
| E02 | $1,254 | $1,026 |
| E03 | $1,254 | $1,026 |
| E04 | $1,254 | $1,026 |
| E05 | $1,311 | $1,128 |
| E06 | $1,584 | $1,197 |
| E07 | $1,677 | $1,257 |
| E08 | $1,779 | $1,371 |
| E09 | $1,920 | $1,443 |
| W01 | $1,602 | $1,248 |
| W02 | $1,719 | $1,368 |
| W03 | $1,845 | $1,455 |
| W04 | $1,950 | $1,599 |
| W05 | $2,082 | $1,701 |
| O01E | $1,692 | $1,308 |
| O02E | $1,827 | $1,428 |
| O03E | $1,968 | $1,575 |
| O01 | $1,353 | $1,194 |
| O02 | $1,581 | $1,296 |
| O03 | $1,842 | $1,482 |
| O04 | $2,124 | $1,677 |
| O05 | $2,322 | $1,743 |
| O06 | $2,340 | $1,827 |
| O07 | $2,358 | $1,857 |
BAH for LAKE CHARLES, LA includes the following zip codes: 70601, 70602, 70605, 70606, 70607, 70609, 70611, 70612, 70615, 70616, 70629, 70630, 70633, 70646, 70647, 70661, 70663, 70664, 70665, 70668, 70669
MONROE, LA BAH Rates
Military Housing Area: LA371
| Grade | With Dependents | Without Dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E01 | $1,104 | $906 |
| E02 | $1,104 | $906 |
| E03 | $1,104 | $906 |
| E04 | $1,104 | $906 |
| E05 | $1,119 | $1,017 |
| E06 | $1,554 | $1,167 |
| E07 | $1,602 | $1,203 |
| E08 | $1,650 | $1,239 |
| E09 | $1,728 | $1,335 |
| W01 | $1,575 | $1,182 |
| W02 | $1,623 | $1,218 |
| W03 | $1,683 | $1,353 |
| W04 | $1,749 | $1,563 |
| W05 | $1,833 | $1,611 |
| O01E | $1,605 | $1,209 |
| O02E | $1,674 | $1,308 |
| O03E | $1,761 | $1,548 |
| O01 | $1,176 | $1,086 |
| O02 | $1,551 | $1,206 |
| O03 | $1,680 | $1,398 |
| O04 | $1,860 | $1,596 |
| O05 | $1,983 | $1,620 |
| O06 | $1,998 | $1,662 |
| O07 | $2,010 | $1,692 |
BAH for MONROE, LA includes the following zip codes: 71201, 71202, 71203, 71207, 71209, 71210, 71211, 71212, 71213, 71217, 71225, 71226, 71227, 71235, 71238, 71240, 71245, 71247, 71251, 71268, 71270, 71272, 71273, 71275, 71280, 71281, 71291, 71292, 71294
