MMilitaryCalc
COLA · Stateside

CONUS Cost of Living Allowance

The 2026 rate from DTMO's tables, and how your area moved every year since 2016. Stationed in Japan, Germany, Korea, Guam, Alaska or Hawaii? Use the overseas COLA calculator.

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How CONUS COLA is calculated

DTMO compares non-housing prices in each Military Housing Area (groceries, transportation, services, taxes) with the average stateside location. An area qualifies when that index is above 107, and every point above it is one point of COLA. San Francisco at 8 points in 2026 means its costs run about 15% above average.

Each point is worth a fixed dollar amount per month that depends on your grade, years of service and whether you have dependents. For 2026 it runs from $31 (junior enlisted, no dependents) to $73 (senior officers with dependents). Your monthly COLA is simply that amount times the area's points.

Things that change the number

The table resets every January 1, and areas drop in and out: DTMO paid 26 areas in 2022, 7 in 2023 and 18 in 2026. Moving to a ZIP outside a paid area ends it the day you report, with no phase-out. Unlike BAH and overseas COLA, CONUS COLA is taxable, so the take-home is smaller than the figure above.

Where the numbers come from

DTMO's CONUS COLA ASCII files for 2016 through 2026, including the April 2024 and April 2025 revisions: the ZIP list with each area's points, and the with- and without-dependents rate tables. Policy is in DoD FMR Volume 7A, Chapter 67. Check any result against DTMO's CONUS COLA rate lookup.

Keep going

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Base Pay Calculator
Your 2026 base pay by rank and years of service

Frequently asked questions

Common questions from service members and veterans. Your exact number comes from the calculator above; every answer cites the official source.

Why did my pay drop after I PCS'd, where did my COLA go?⌄
CONUS COLA is a taxable allowance for high-cost areas inside the continental US, set by duty-station ZIP, pay grade, years of service, and dependents. If you move to a ZIP that does not exceed the DoD cost threshold, it drops to $0 immediately with no phase-out and no BAH offset. It can also be reduced mid-tour if the area's relative costs fall. It is separate from BAH and from overseas COLA. Run the calculator with your ZIP to see if you qualify.
Source: DoD DTMO CONUS COLA
What's the 2026 retiree and VA COLA, and why is it different from the pay raise?⌄
The retiree and VA disability COLA tracks CPI (the same index as Social Security) and applies to retired pay, VA disability, SMC, DIC, and pension, effective December 1 and first seen in the January payment. The active-duty basic pay raise is a separate, usually different percentage tied to the Employment Cost Index. They are two different mechanisms for two different audiences. Both are automatic.
Source: DoD / VA.gov / SSA COLA
Do I get the COLA increase automatically or do I need to file?⌄
It is automatic. No claim, call, or form is needed. The COLA applies to VA disability ratings 10-100%, TDIU, SMC, DIC, pension, and military retired pay. A 0% rating has no monthly amount, so nothing changes there. Use the calculator to see your post-COLA monthly figure.
Source: VA.gov / DFAS
What's the difference between CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA, and is COLA taxed?⌄
CONUS COLA covers high-cost areas inside the continental US, is TAXABLE, and adjusts yearly. OCONUS COLA covers overseas duty stations, is NON-taxable, and can change as often as monthly with currency and cost shifts. Neither is the same as the retiree/VA COLA or as BAH. The tax treatment difference catches people off guard.
Source: DoD DTMO COLA
Is COLA the same as my BAH or my combat-zone tax break?⌄
No, these are three different things. BAH is a housing allowance, COLA offsets high cost of living (CONUS taxable, OCONUS non-taxable), and the combat-zone tax exclusion removes federal tax from pay earned in a designated zone. They can all appear on one LES but follow separate rules. The calculator handles each separately so you do not double-count.
Source: DoD DTMO / IRS

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