San Antonio, TX BAH Rates 2024, Housing, Education, & Cost of Living
Discover BAH Rates, Housing, Education, & Cost of Living for San Antonio, Texas
Find housing, employment, cost-of-living, and BAH rates for San Antonio, TX. Listed below are BAH Rates, college and universities, cost-of-living information, school resources for children of military families, and things to see and do in the San Antonio area.
San Antonio is a major metropolitan area in the state of Texas that is home to multiple military installations. Some of the military installations in Texas include:
- Dyess AFB
- Fort Bliss
- Fort Cavazos (Formerly Fort Hood)
- Joint Base San Antonio (Lackland, Randolph, Sam Houston)
- Laughlin AFB
- Naval Air Station Corpus Christi
- Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth
- Naval Air Station Kingsville
- Red River Army Depot
- Sheppard AFB
San Antonio, TX BAH Rates
| Rank | With | Without |
|---|---|---|
| E1 | $1,803 | $1,353 |
| E2 | $1,803 | $1,353 |
| E3 | $1,803 | $1,353 |
| E4 | $1,803 | $1,353 |
| E5 | $1,956 | $1,524 |
| E6 | $2,163 | $1,659 |
| E7 | $2,184 | $1,806 |
| E8 | $2,193 | $2,004 |
| E9 | $2,220 | $2,055 |
| W1 | $2,181 | $1,761 |
| W2 | $2,190 | $2,001 |
| W3 | $2,202 | $2,064 |
| W4 | $2,241 | $2,160 |
| W5 | $2,331 | $2,166 |
| O1e | $2,187 | $1,953 |
| O2e | $2,196 | $2,043 |
| O3e | $2,253 | $2,154 |
| O1 | $1,989 | $1,644 |
| O2 | $2,160 | $1,905 |
| O3 | $2,199 | $2,085 |
| O4 | $2,358 | $2,163 |
| O5 | $2,490 | $2,169 |
| O6 | $2,508 | $2,172 |
| O7 | $2,523 | $2,184 |
Local Colleges and Universities
San Antonio is home to several colleges and universities. This is a partial list.
- The University of Texas at San Antonio (zip code – 78249)
- San Antonio College (zip code – 78212)
- Trinity University (zip code – 78212)
- Texas A&M University-San Antonio (zip code – 78224)
- St. Mary’s University (zip code – 78228)
- Hallmark University (zip code – 78251)
Using Your GI Bill in San Antonio, Texas
Anyone considering using the Post 9/11 GI Bill should know the following:
- You may be eligible for Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) if you are a full-time student.
- MHA is comparable to the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) for an E-5 with dependents.
- MHA is calculated based on the zip code of where you physically attend most of your classes.
- Those attending only online classes receive a set MHA of approximately $1,054 (in 2023.)
- Up to $1,000 is available each year for books and supplies for qualifying applicants.
- The Post 9/11 GI Bill can be transferred to a spouse or dependents but you must still be on active duty to transfer.
- The Yellow Ribbon Program offers financial support in specific situations where the GI Bill does not fully cover the cost of tuition at participating colleges.
Cost of Living in San Antonio
According to BestPlaces, the cost of living in San Antonio has an index of 91.3, which is 8.7 percent lower than other parts of the country. Compared to other cities in Texas, the cost of living in San Antonio is 3.1 percent higher than average.
Health and transportation are the categories with the highest costs in San Antonio, though they are still lower than the averages in both Texas and the rest of the country.
Category/Index
- Overall – 91.3
- Housing – 75.5
- Groceries – 91.4
- Transportation – 99.3
- Utilities – 94.9
Other categories to consider
- Healthcare
- Childcare
- Taxes
San Antonio Housing
San Antonio is filled with unique, diverse, and family friendly neighborhoods that have something for everyone. Understanding the housing landscape of a new city is important when deciding where to live. The average rent is $1,290 in 2023, according to RentCafe and the most affordable and safe neighborhoods in San Antonio include (at press time)
- Alamo Heights – $1,307
- Monte Vista – $974
- Tobin Hill – $724
Other desirable neighborhoods in San Antonio include El Dorado, Beacon Hill, King William, and Lavaca. These neighborhoods are highly rated for their access to idyllic public green spaces, entertainment, safety, and high-quality schools.
According to Realtor.com, the average sale price of a home as of November 2023 is approximately $284,000. San Antonio is currently rated a buyers-market, indicating that the supply of homes is greater than the demand.
To learn more about VA Loan Program benefits, you can get a free eligibility assessment from our VA loan partner.
Primary Education
For families with school-age children, living in an area that has high quality primary schools is important as it can affect children’s educational outcomes. Even for families without children, the quality of the schools in the area can affect the value of housing prices. The San Antonio area is home to many top-rated primary schools and school districts. According to Greatschools.org some of the best primary schools include:
- Idea Carver Academy
- Great Hearts Monte Vista
- George E Kelly Elementary School
- Cambridge Elementary School
- Mark Twain Dual Language Academy
Additionally, the Joint Base San Antonio (Fort Sam Houston, Lackland AFB, and Randolph AFB) have their own independent School Districts which are not a part of the Department of Defense school system. Schools within these districts include:
- Fort Sam Houston Elementary School and Robert F. Cole Middle School and High School
- Lackland Elementary School and Virginia Allred Stacey Junior-Senior High School
- Randolph Elementary School, Randolph Middle School, and Randolph High School
Employment Opportunities
San Antonio has a thriving economy with a skilled labor force that works across a diverse set of industries. According to the city of San Antonio’s Economic Development Department, the top industries are:
- Aerospace
- New Energy
- Healthcare and Bioscience
- Information Technology and Cybersecurity
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in San Antonio as of October 2023 is 3.6%, which is below the national unemployment rate.
>> To find organizations seeking to recruit and place military, veterans, and spouses, please visit CareerRecon.
Things to See and Do in San Antonio
San Antonio is a dynamic city with a rich frontier history related to its history as a 18th century Spanish mission and colonial outpost. It also has a thriving arts and culture scene with diverse cultural influences from all over the world. San Antonio is full of historical landmarks, museums, culinary experiences, amusement parks, and natural wonders waiting to be explored.
- Explore The Alamo, an icon of Texas to discover its remarkable place in American history
- Stroll along the San Antonio River Walk to partake in fun for the whole family including seasonal events, nightlife, plays, museums, and premium dining
- Enjoy an enriching day of exploring historical landmarks by visiting the Mission San Jose and San Antonio Missions National Historical Park
- Visit the San Antonio Botanical Garden to experience native plants from three distinct regions of Texas and Japanese gardens
- Get in touch with wildlife at the San Antonio Zoo and Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch
- Have a day of family fun at Morgan’s Wonderland or Six Flags Fiesta Texas
About the author
Sarah Tucci
Sarah is a Philadelphia-based writer. She comes to CollegeRecon with an interdisciplinary background in international relations and cultural heritage with an interest in understanding the intersection of armed conflict and cultural heritage, particularly in Eastern and Southeastern Europe. When not writing for CollegeRecon, Sarah enjoys traveling, watching documentaries, and hanging out with her beloved Pitbull, Brutus.