San Francisco BAH Rates
San Francisco BAH rates and housing Information for military and veterans. This page details the San Francisco military housing area to assist you in making decisions about where to live.
2026 BAH Rates for San Francisco
| Paygrade | With | Without |
|---|---|---|
| E1 | $ 4,764 | $ 3,573 |
| E2 | $ 4,764 | $ 3,573 |
| E3 | $ 4,764 | $ 3,573 |
| E4 | $ 4,764 | $ 3,573 |
| E5 | $ 5,127 | $ 4,086 |
| E6 | $ 5,454 | $ 4,443 |
| E7 | $ 5,490 | $ 4,782 |
| E8 | $ 5,529 | $ 5,196 |
| E9 | $ 5,799 | $ 5,286 |
| W1 | $ 5,472 | $ 4,644 |
| W2 | $ 5,505 | $ 5,193 |
| W3 | $ 5,559 | $ 5,301 |
| W4 | $ 5,892 | $ 5,454 |
| W5 | $ 6,297 | $ 5,496 |
| O1E | $ 5,493 | $ 5,124 |
| O2E | $ 5,547 | $ 5,268 |
| O3E | $ 5,955 | $ 5,445 |
| O1 | $ 5,172 | $ 4,401 |
| O2 | $ 5,451 | $ 5,007 |
| O3 | $ 5,556 | $ 5,331 |
| O4 | $ 6,444 | $ 5,481 |
| O5 | $ 7,089 | $ 5,499 |
| O6 | $ 7,155 | $ 5,532 |
| O7 | $ 7,215 | $ 5,634 |
Updated with the 2026 BAH data.
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San Francisco, CA Zip Codes
These zip codes are for the BAH Rates above –
ZIP Codes: 94005, 94010, 94011, 94014, 94015, 94016, 94017, 94018, 94019, 94026, 94030, 94037, 94038, 94044, 94066, 94080, 94083, 94102, 94103, 94104, 94105, 94107, 94108, 94109, 94110, 94111, 94112, 94114, 94115, 94116, 94117, 94118, 94119, 94120, 94121, 94122, 94123, 94124, 94125, 94126, 94127, 94128, 94129, 94131, 94132, 94133, 94134, 94137, 94139, 94140, 94141, 94142, 94143, 94144, 94145, 94146, 94147, 94151, 94158, 94159, 94160, 94161, 94163, 94164, 94172, 94177, 94188, 94401, 94402, 94403, 94404, 94497
San Francisco Housing
San Francisco is known for its unique neighborhoods that are filled with their own distinct culture, and is a desirable place to live on California’s coast. According to RentCafe, the average rent in San Francisco is $3,287 and the average apartment size is 739 sq. ft.
While the high cost of living in San Francisco is no secret, it is still possible to find reasonable rent prices for the area in the following neighborhoods:
- Nob Hill – median rent price $2,423
- South of Market (SoMa) – median rent price $2,611
- Civic Center – median rent price $2,542
- Lower Pacific Heights – median rent price $2,600
- Visitacion Valley – average rent price $2,278
Other desirable neighborhoods in San Francisco include The Castro, Presidio Heights, Hayes Valley, Haight Ashbury, Glen Park, and Inner Sunset.
According to realtor.com, the average sale price of a home as of March 2024 is approximately $1.4 million, and San Francisco is currently a seller’s market, meaning that more people are looking to buy homes than currently available on the market.
To learn more about VA Loan Program benefits, you can get a free eligibility assessment from our VA loan partner.
Military Installations Near San Francisco
Some of the military installations that are near San Francisco include:
- Travis Air Force Base
- U.S. Army Garrison Presidio of Monterey
- Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center
- Naval Air Station Lemoore
- Camp Parks Reserve Forces Training Area
Cost of Living in San Francisco
San Francisco is an iconic city on the Northern California coast known for its vibrant culture and beautiful scenery. The city is among the most expensive in the nation with a cost of living score of 245.5 percent, according to BestPlaces.
The cost of housing is considerably higher than the state and national average coming in at 504.4 percent. The cost of housing, food, childcare, transportation, healthcare, and taxes are 145.5 percent higher than the national average and 63.8 percent higher than the state average.
Category/Index
- Overall – 245.5
- Housing – 504.4
- Groceries – 116.6
- Transportation – 158.2
- Utilities – 97.5
Other categories to consider
- Healthcare
- Childcare
- Taxes
Median Home Price in San Francisco, CA
Median Home Price (from National Association of Realtors) –
-
- Single Family Home $917,000, Condo $884,900
- Average monthly payment – $4,501 (approx.)
- (30-year Fixed VA Loan, 5% Interest Rate, with Down Payment, no PMI)
- VA Loan Limit – $726,525 (2019)
GI Bill BAH Rates for San Francisco
For those looking to attend college in the San Francisco, CA area, your Monthly Housing Allowance will be similar to an E-5 with dependents.
Updated San Francisco, CA BAH for E-5 with Dependents = $4,992 (2025-2026 school year)
Using Your GI Bill
Anyone considering using the Post 9/11 GI Bill in San Francisco, you 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.
- Up to $1,000 is available each year for books and supplies.
- 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
Colleges and Universities in San Francisco, CA
This is a partial list of schools.
- Golden Gate University-San Francisco
- College of San Mateo
- San Francisco State University
- University of San Francisco
- City College of San Francisco
- San Francisco Conservatory of Music
- Skyline College
- San Francisco Art Institute
- University of California, Berkeley
- California State University, East Bay
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.
Primary Education
Access to primary education is an important consideration for parents with school age children. There are currently no DoDEA schools in the San Francisco area, however there are many top primary schools in the area.
According to Greatschools.org, the top primary schools in San Francisco include:
- Alamo Elementary School
- Jefferson Elementary School
- Lau (Gordon J.) Elementary School
- Lawton Alternative Elementary School
- Ortega (Jose) Elementary School
Employment Opportunities in San Francisco
San Francisco is largely known for holding an important place in the development of technology and emerging markets. Because of this, there are ample employment opportunities in many sectors across the Bay Area.
Some of the top industries, according to the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, include:
- IT and Software
- Social and Digital Media
- Life Science and Biotech
- Environmental and Cleantech
- International Business
The largest employers in the San Francisco area include SalesForce Inc., Wells Fargo, Sutter Health, Cisco Systems, Apple, and Pacific Gas & Electric.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in San Francisco as of March 2024 is 4.2 percent.
Things to Do in San Francisco
From breathtaking views of famous vistas, getting in touch with the city’s rich history, and exploring iconic neighborhoods, San Francisco is a lively city that has something to offer everyone.
Some top things to do in San Francisco include:
- Spending a few hours crossing the legendary Golden Gate Bridge on foot or by bike, while stopping to see the sweeping views of the city. Those who do not want to cross the bridge can snap photos of the landmark from the Golden Gate Overlook Battery East Vista, or Pacific Overlook.
- Getting a unique perspective of the city by taking a cable car through San Francisco’s dramatic hills. Cable cars have been used in San Francisco since the late 19th century and are now both a national landmark and a fun way to get around.
- Spending a day at the criminally notorious Alcatraz Island to visit the famed penitentiary that operated from the 1930s to the 1960s. You can see how America’s most notorious criminals, including Al Capone, lived during their tenure.
- Have a day of family fun at Fisherman’s Wharf, which is home to a waterfront marketplace and PIER 39, which has rides, arcade games, and even a place to see the famous California sea lions. PIER 39 is also close to other attractions, such as Madame Tussauds and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum, and many great restaurants.
- Visit Golden Gate Park to have a picnic with friends or family, or to take in the scenery. The park also contains landmarks such as the Conservatory of Flowers and the California Academy of Sciences.
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