2026 CONUS COLA Calculator
Calculate your Cost of Living Allowance based on your duty station ZIP code, pay grade, years of service, and dependency status.
2026 CONUS COLA Calculator
Find Location By
Years of Service: 4
Dependency Status
Select a location, pay grade, and years of service to calculate your CONUS COLA.
Note: CONUS COLA is a taxable allowance for non-housing costs in high-cost areas within the continental United States. Unlike BAH, COLA eligibility is determined by your duty station ZIP code, not just the military base.
Compare CONUS COLA Rates
Use the interactive chart below to compare CONUS COLA rates across all eligible locations for different pay grades and years of service.
2026 CONUS COLA by Location
San Francisco, CA
$384
Oakland, CA
$288
Santa Clara County, CA
$240
New York City, NY
$192
Seattle, WA
$192
Staten Island, NY
$192
Los Angeles, CA
$144
Sacramento, CA
$144
Long Island, NY
$96
Westchester County, NY
$96
Baltimore, MD
$48
Camp Pendleton, CA
$48
Chicago, IL
$48
Everett, WA
$48
Marin/Sonoma, CA
$48
Nantucket, MA
$48
San Diego, CA
$48
Warrenton, VA
$48
2026 CONUS COLA Locations
The following locations are eligible for CONUS COLA in 2026. The index multiplier determines how much you receive based on your base rate.
| Location | Index | Example (E-5, 4 YOS, w/Dep) |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | 8 | $384/mo |
| Oakland, CA | 6 | $288/mo |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 5 | $240/mo |
| New York City, NY | 4 | $192/mo |
| Seattle, WA | 4 | $192/mo |
| Staten Island, NY | 4 | $192/mo |
| Los Angeles, CA | 3 | $144/mo |
| Sacramento, CA | 3 | $144/mo |
| Long Island, NY | 2 | $96/mo |
| Westchester County, NY | 2 | $96/mo |
| Baltimore, MD | 1 | $48/mo |
| Camp Pendleton, CA | 1 | $48/mo |
| Chicago, IL | 1 | $48/mo |
| Everett, WA | 1 | $48/mo |
| Marin/Sonoma, CA | 1 | $48/mo |
| Nantucket, MA | 1 | $48/mo |
| San Diego, CA | 1 | $48/mo |
| Warrenton, VA | 1 | $48/mo |
Understanding CONUS COLA
CONUS COLA (Continental United States Cost of Living Allowance) is a taxable allowance that helps military service members offset the higher non-housing costs in certain high-cost areas within the continental United States.
How CONUS COLA Differs from BAH
While BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) covers housing costs and is tax-free, CONUS COLA addresses non-housing expenses like groceries, transportation, utilities, and other daily living costs. CONUS COLA is taxable income.
How CONUS COLA Is Calculated
Your CONUS COLA amount is calculated using a simple formula:
Monthly COLA = Base Rate × Location Index
The base rate is determined by your pay grade, years of service, and dependency status. The location index (1-8) is based on your duty station ZIP code and reflects how expensive that area is compared to the national average.
2026 CONUS COLA Changes
For 2026, several areas have seen changes to their CONUS COLA eligibility and rates. Nine Military Housing Areas lost COLA eligibility entirely, and 21 non-metropolitan counties (primarily in California and New York) are no longer eligible. Service members in affected areas should verify their current eligibility using their specific duty station ZIP code.
ZIP Code-Based Eligibility
Unlike some other military allowances, CONUS COLA eligibility is determined by your specific duty station ZIP code, not just the military installation. Two service members at the same base could receive different COLA amounts (or one might not be eligible at all) if their duty stations have different ZIP codes.
Rates shown are official 2026 CONUS COLA rates from the Department of Defense, effective January 1, 2026.
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