The Department of Defense has announced the 2026 Continental United States (CONUS) Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA) rates.
The department did not release a complete list of eligible locations but provides a lookup tool by ZIP code.
About 127,000 service members will receive a total of about $99 million in CONUS COLA payments in 2026, according to a department news release, significantly more than in 2025, when about 61,000 troops received about $51 million and 2024, when about 17,000 troops received about $26 million.
CONUS COLA is different from Outside Continental United States (OCONUS) COLA, because CONUS COLA is a taxable pay rather than a non-taxable allowance. Also unlike OCONUS COLA, it changes only once each year, rather than monthly, and is based on cost of living rather than fluctuations in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies.
CONUS COLA is paid to military members stationed in high-cost areas in the U.S. The rate varies by geographic location, rank, years of service and dependency status.
Related: Frequently Asked Questions About CONUS COLA
CONUS COLA also differs from the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), because CONUS COLA factors in costs of living that are unrelated to housing costs. CONUS COLA can also be paid to service members living in base housing, in barracks or onboard ships.
2026 CONUS COLA Changes
For 2026, the department did not announce a range in monthly payments per CONUS COLA percentage point. In 2025, the payments ranged from $35 to $60 for members with dependents and $27 to $46 for those without dependents.
The department reported the following percentage rates and changes:
- Six military housing areas will begin receiving CONUS COLA.
- Eight military housing areas will receive an increase in CONUS COLA.
- Two military housing areas will continue receiving the CONUS COLA.
- Two military housing areas will receive a decrease in CONUS COLA.
- Nine military housing areas will no longer receive CONUS COLA.
- 21 counties will lose CONUS COLA for non-military housing areas in non-metropolitan counties.
Military housing areas with the highest CONUS COLA rates:
- San Francisco, 8%
- Oakland, California, 6%
- Santa Clara County, California, 5%
- Staten Island, New York, 5%
- Seatle, 5%
Military housing area with the largest decrease in CONUS COLA:
- Humboldt County, California, 5% to 0%
Military housing area with the largest increase in CONUS COLA:
- Seattle, Washington, 0% to 5%
Check out DoD's CONUS COLA calculator for details on your location.
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