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Sacramento BAH Rates and Housing Information

Find housing, employment, cost-of-living, and BAH rates for Sacramento, CA. Listed below are BAH Rates, college and university information, cost-of-living details, school resources for military families, and things to see and do in the Sacramento area.

BAH Rates for Sacramento, CA, and Nearby Military Bases

Sacramento Area Military Bases

Some of the military installations that are proximal to Sacramento include:

• Travis Air Force Base 
• U.S. Army Garrison Presidio of Monterey
• Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center
• Naval Air Station Lemore
• Camp Parks Reserve Forces Training Area

Sacramento BAH Rates 2026

Paygrade	With	Without
E1	$ 2,598	$ 2,016
E2	$ 2,598	$ 2,016
E3	$ 2,598	$ 2,016
E4	$ 2,598	$ 2,016
E5	$ 2,904	$ 2,190
E6	$ 2,979	$ 2,325
E7	$ 2,997	$ 2,610
E8	$ 3,021	$ 2,925
E9	$ 3,114	$ 2,934
W1	$ 2,994	$ 2,499
W2	$ 3,006	$ 2,922
W3	$ 3,042	$ 2,940
W4	$ 3,144	$ 2,973
W5	$ 3,276	$ 3,000
O1e	$ 3,000	$ 2,901
O2e	$ 3,033	$ 2,931
O3e	$ 3,165	$ 2,964
O1	$ 2,922	$ 2,292
O2	$ 2,976	$ 2,805
O3	$ 3,039	$ 2,943
O4	$ 3,318	$ 2,988
O5	$ 3,525	$ 3,003
O6	$ 3,552	$ 3,015
O7	$ 3,576	$ 3,069

 

 

Updated with 2026 BAH data.

 

Sacramento Colleges & Universities

The Sacramento area is home to several colleges and universities. This is a partial list.

• California State University Sacramento 
• American River College
• Cosumnes River College
• Carrington College

The state of California offers a College Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents benefit program that waives tuition and fees for public colleges and universities throughout the state. Discover more information about the multiple plans offered under this program.

To find more Sacramento area schools, use the free CollegeRecon School Finder tool.

Cost of Living in Sacramento

Sacramento is the capital of California and a favored place to live, thanks to its vibrant urban landscape and easy access to beautiful natural surroundings. According to BestPlaces, Sacramento has a cost-of-living score of 127.2 percent, which is 27.2 percent higher than the national average, and 15.1 percent lower than the state average.

The cost of housing in Sacramento is significantly lower than the rest of California, coming in at 149.3 percent compared to the state average of 234.8 percent, making it an affordable place to call home.

Category/Index

• Overall – 127.2
• Housing – 149.3
• Groceries – 104.8
• Transportation – 121.0
• Utilities – 98.4

Other categories to consider

• Healthcare
• Childcare
• Taxes

Sacramento Housing

Sacramento is an affordable place to live in California, offering its residents a lot to enjoy. According to RentCafe, the average rent in Sacramento is $1,850, and the average apartment size is 826 sq. ft.

Some of the most affordable neighborhoods in Sacramento include:

• East Del Paso Heights – Median Rent $1,292
• Freeport Manor – Median Rent $1,088
• Greenbriar – Median Rent $1,201
• Northgate – Median Rent $1,411
• River Park – Median Rent $1,552

Other desirable neighborhoods in Sacramento include: Natomas Park, Village 7, Westlake, and Heritage Park.

Primary Education in Sacramento

There are currently no DoDEA schools in Greater Sacramento; there are many top primary schools in the area.

According to Greatschools.org, some of the top primary schools in Sacramento include:

• Crocker/Riverside Elementary School
• Phoebe A. Hearst Elementary School
• Sacramento Valley Charter
• Sutter Peak Charter Academy
• Caleb Greenwood Elementary School

Employment Opportunities

The Sacramento area is known for its diverse set of industries and innovation. According to the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, the area is a launching pad for small startups and international corporations. Some of the top industries in the area include:

• Food and Agricultural Tech
• Life Sciences
• Future Mobility
• FinTech
• Semiconductors

Top employers in the Greater Sacramento area include: Kaiser Permanente, Aerojet Rocketdyne Inc., Intel Corp, Disabled American Veterans, and General Produce Co. Ltd.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in Sacramento as of March 2024 is 4.9 percent.

Things To Do in Sacramento

Sacramento is the capital city of California and is also known for its rich history, beautiful scenery, and vibrant arts scene. It is filled with great cafes, restaurants, and fun events, making the city a dynamic place to live.

Some of the best things to do in Sacramento include:

• Spending a day in the Old Sacramento Waterfront where you can soak in the Gold Rush era heritage that the city is famous for. Old Sacramento also features fun events, a park with attractions, shopping, art cafes, and good restaurants.
• Enjoying the museums the city has to offer, including the Crocker Art Museum, California State Railroad Museum, and Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park.
• Those who prefer outdoor activities can spend a day river rafting down the American or the Sacramento River. There are many access points to the river, including Discovery Park and Sutter’s Landing.
• Take time to enjoy the many outdoor festivals and events the city offers. Every second Saturday, the art galleries in Midtown Sacramento open for the Second Saturday Art Walk. Additionally, the city hosts events such as Gold Rush Days and the Farm-to-Fork Celebration, which celebrate the area’s rich heritage.
• Enjoy a day of family fun at the Sacramento Zoo, which is located in Land Park. The zoo features over 100 species of animals, including giraffes, African lions, sloths, kangaroos, and rhinos.