Duty-station comparison All-service

Duty Station Purchasing Power Index

Compares how far your pay actually goes at two duty stations. For OCONUS, Alaska, or Hawaii duty stations, enter the DTMO COLA location code to include the official Overseas COLA allowance and use the COLA index as the cost-of-living factor.

Current military paygrade.

Completed years in service used for the base-pay row.

Select whether this scenario is with dependents or without dependents.

Primary duty-station ZIP used for BAH.

Second ZIP used for side-by-side affordability comparisons.

Advanced assumptions (optional)
Special pay (monthly)

Optional monthly special/incentive pay to add to compensation.

Estimated deduction rate

Estimated share of gross pay withheld for taxes and deductions.

Current ZIP cost factor

Cost factor for the current ZIP result (1.00 means no adjustment).

Comparison ZIP cost factor

Cost factor for the comparison ZIP result (1.00 means no adjustment).

Optional: Enter DTMO COLA location codes to include Overseas COLA in the comparison. Applies to Alaska, Hawaii, and OCONUS duty stations only.

Complete required fields, then select Calculate.

Estimate confidence: PENDING INPUT

Data as of 2026-01-01

Included in estimate

  • Base pay (paygrade + years of service)
  • BAS
  • BAH (ZIP + dependent status)
  • Special pay entered in this scenario
  • Cost-of-living factor used by this tool
  • Deduction rate assumption shown in this tool

Not included

  • Service-specific incentive pays not entered (for example sea pay or flight pay)
  • Future pay-table or allowance updates after the data date
  • Personal tax credits/deductions beyond the selected deduction assumption

What this tool is for

Use when a raw BAH comparison between two ZIPs understates the real economic difference. For CONUS-to-CONUS comparisons, adjust the cost factor manually. For OCONUS/Alaska/Hawaii, enter the DTMO COLA location code for authoritative cost data.

Worked example

Example: comparing Norfolk (ZIP 23511) vs Anchorage, AK (ZIP 99501, COLA code AK005, index 128) at E-7 with dependents shows the BAH difference plus real COLA allowance, with purchasing power normalized by the 1.28 COLA index.

When to use it

Use it when assignment or PCS planning hinges on real economic difference, especially for OCONUS, Alaska, or Hawaii orders.

When not to use it

Do not use it for exact COLA entitlement. COLA index updates bimonthly; use the DTMO calculator for the official rate on your specific orders.

What the result means

When a COLA code is entered, the result includes the DTMO COLA allowance added to monthly income and uses the COLA index (÷ 100) as the purchasing-power denominator. Without a COLA code, the result uses the configurable cost factor (default 1.1 for primary station).

Official sources used

Direct links to the official pages this tool relies on.

See the full methodology page

Site assumptions

  • When a COLA location code is provided, monthly COLA is computed per the official DTMO formula: (annual spendable income / 12) × (index / 100 − 1). Spendable income uses the DTMO 2026 table by paygrade, YOS, and dependent status.
  • Dependent count is assumed to be 1 for 'with dependents' scenarios for COLA purposes.
  • BAH is the DoD-published rate for each ZIP and dependent status.
  • Without a COLA code, the default cost factor (1.1 for primary station) is a configurable planning estimate, not an official DoD rate.

What is included

  • BAH for both ZIPs at the entered paygrade and dependent status
  • Base pay and BAS at the entered paygrade and years of service
  • DTMO Overseas COLA allowance (when location code entered)
  • Cost-of-living factor applied to normalize purchasing power

What is not included

  • Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA): applies to OCONUS BAH-equivalent
  • Actual local housing market prices
  • Utility costs or transportation costs
  • State income tax differences between duty stations

Verify with

  • DTMO COLA tables at travel.dod.mil for your specific location and pay period
  • DTMO BAH lookup for each ZIP
  • Your unit finance office for actual entitlements

Frequently asked questions

Is this an official government site?

No. This is an independent planning utility, not an official U.S. Government website. Do not submit CUI, ITAR, classified, or sensitive personal information. Always verify estimates with official sources before making financial decisions.

How accurate are these estimates?

These are planning estimates based on official DFAS, DoD, and service-specific sources. Actual pay may vary based on your specific situation, special pays, tax withholdings, and other factors. Use these tools for planning purposes and verify with your finance office.

When was this data last updated?

Check the source and assumptions sections on this page for the current effective date used by the site. If the linked official pages have changed since then, use the official pages first.

How do cost factors affect the comparison?

Cost factors adjust the estimated purchasing power of your compensation at each location. A cost factor above 1.0 means higher living costs, while below 1.0 means lower costs compared to the baseline.

Related tools

This estimate uses simplified planning assumptions. Review the linked methodology and official source pages before making financial decisions. Spotted an error or have a suggestion? Send a note.