What is the COLA index at Eielson AFB?

The OCONUS COLA index at Eielson AFB is 132, meaning everyday goods and services cost approximately 32% more than the U.S. average. COLA is a tax-free allowance that offsets this difference. Source: DTMO, January 2026.

Is military pay at Eielson AFB taxable?

The planner treats Basic Pay as taxable and BAH, OCONUS COLA, and BAS as non-taxable allowances. It does not estimate a tax-free percentage when a required allowance is unavailable.

What currency is used at Eielson AFB?

Eielson AFB is in Alaska, which uses the US Dollar (USD). The approximate exchange rate is 1 USD = 1 USD. OHA and COLA are paid in USD but fluctuate with the exchange rate.

Housing allowance availability reviewed September 17, 2026

Eielson AFB Overseas Pay & BAH Information

Alaska

Air Force

COLA Index: 132

BAH

Available military pay components for Eielson AFB, Alaska. Housing uses BAH. Missing allowances make compensation totals unavailable.

Overseas Station Planner

Review pay, allowances, housing, and cost of living. Totals are unavailable when a required allowance is missing.

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Duty Station

Your Profile

Pay Grade

Years of Service: 4

Number of Dependents: 0

Used for housing allowance dependency status and OCONUS COLA. Dependency status differs from whether family accompanies you.

Housing Situation

Off-base housing uses BAH in Alaska and Hawaii, and OHA elsewhere. Eligibility and the applicable rate require verification.

Select a duty station above

Available Basic Pay, housing allowance, COLA, and BAS information will appear here.

Data availability: Unverified OHA figures have been withdrawn. Missing allowances are not treated as zero. Alaska and Hawaii use BAH. Available components remain estimates. COLA indices are from January 2026. Basic pay reflects 2026 DFAS tables. Verify current rates with your finance office or at travel.dod.mil.

About this tool: The Overseas Station Planner combines data from DFAS basic pay, housing allowance availability, OCONUS COLA, and exchange-rate context. Confirm current entitlements with your finance office.

Data Sources

OHA lookup (rates unavailable here): DTMO. OCONUS COLA: DTMO. Basic Pay: DFAS 2026. BAS: DFAS. All allowances are estimates and vary by family size and location.

Eielson AFB BAH

Eielson AFB uses Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). Alaska and Hawaii are BAH locations. See the installation BAH page for rates by exact pay grade and dependency status.

View Eielson AFB BAH rates

Eielson AFB OCONUS COLA : Cost of Living

COLA Index

132

Cost Above US Baseline

+32%

Index Effective Date

September 16, 2025

OCONUS COLA is a non-taxable allowance that offsets higher overseas living costs. Your actual COLA amount depends on pay grade, years of service, and number of dependents. Source: DTMO, January 2026. Index updated multiple times per year.

Additional Allowances & Data Sources

BAS (Enlisted)	$453/mo : tax-free. Source: DFAS, effective Jan 1, 2026.
BAS (Officer)	$312/mo : tax-free. Source: DFAS, effective Jan 1, 2026.
Basic Pay	DFAS 2026 pay tables (3.8% increase). Varies by grade and years of service.
BAH	Eielson AFB uses Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). Alaska and Hawaii are BAH locations. See the installation BAH page for rates by exact pay grade and dependency status.
COLA Index	DTMO, January 2026. Updated multiple times per year based on local costs and exchange rates.

Last reviewed: September 17, 2026. Verify at travel.dod.mil and dfas.mil.

Understanding Your Pay at Eielson AFB

Eielson AFB uses Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). Alaska and Hawaii are BAH locations. See the installation BAH page for rates by exact pay grade and dependency status. You may also receive OCONUS COLA to help cover higher living costs.

How Housing Allowances Work

The biggest difference: BAH is a fixed monthly amount you keep regardless of your actual rent. OHA only reimburses what you actually pay, up to the rental ceiling. If your rent is below the OHA ceiling, you receive less than the maximum. If it exceeds the ceiling, you pay the difference out of pocket. OHA rates also fluctuate with the US Dollar exchange rate.

Tax Advantages at Eielson AFB

The planner treats Basic Pay as taxable and BAH, OCONUS COLA, and BAS as non-taxable. A tax-free percentage and civilian salary comparison require every allowance component.

About Eielson AFB

Welcome to Fairbanks, Alaska! Eielson Air Force Base (AFB) traces its beginnings to 1943, when an airfield was built to support an Army airfield named after Major Arthur K Ladd near Fort Wainwright. During the Cold War, the base hosted heavy bomber wings and fighter wings among other composite squadrons. Today, the base is home to the 354th Fighter Wing of the 11th Air Force and part of the Pacific Air Forces. Today Eielson AFB covers more than 63,195 acres southeast of Fairbanks and boasts the second longest runway in America! The base hosts a grand total of 10,756 personnel of which 1,797 are active duty, 3,881 civilian employees, hundreds of Reserve and National Guard members, and family members. Continue reading for our in-depth guide on Eielson Air Force Base to help aid you in your t...

Read the full Eielson AFB guide →

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