What is the 2026 BAH rate for an E-5 in Des Moines, IA?

In Des Moines, IA, the 2026 monthly BAH for an E-5 is $1,770 with dependents and $1,359 without dependents. These are official Department of Defense rates, effective 1 January 2026.

Is BAH in Des Moines, IA taxed?

No. Basic Allowance for Housing is a non-taxable allowance, so the full monthly amount reaches you.

Does the number of dependents change my BAH?

No. There are two rates per pay grade — with dependents and without. One dependent and four dependents receive the same amount.

2026 BAH Rates — Des Moines, IA

Basic Allowance for Housing is the tax-free monthly amount the Department of Defense pays toward housing when you do not live in government quarters. It is set by duty-station ZIP code, pay grade, and whether you have dependents. Below are the official 2026 rates for the Des Moines, IA military housing area (MHA IA082).

An E-5 with dependents receives $1,770 per month here, $1,359 without. An O-3 with dependents receives $2,433. Across all pay grades the Des Moines, IA rates run from $1,284 to $2,943 per month.

2026 monthly BAH by pay grade — Des Moines, IA

Official DoD rates, effective 1 January 2026. Amounts are monthly and tax-free.
Pay grade	With dependents	Without dependents
E-1	$1,593	$1,284
E-2	$1,593	$1,284
E-3	$1,593	$1,284
E-4	$1,593	$1,284
E-5	$1,770	$1,359
E-6	$2,208	$1,656
E-7	$2,292	$1,719
E-8	$2,379	$1,863
E-9	$2,511	$1,989
W-1	$2,229	$1,674
W-2	$2,328	$1,860
W-3	$2,436	$2,007
W-4	$2,538	$2,223
W-5	$2,667	$2,310
O-1	$1,830	$1,413
O-1E	$2,304	$1,767
O-2	$2,205	$1,722
O-2E	$2,418	$1,962
O-3	$2,433	$2,049
O-3E	$2,559	$2,202
O-4	$2,706	$2,289
O-5	$2,904	$2,334
O-6	$2,925	$2,415
O-7	$2,943	$2,454
O-8	$2,943	$2,454
O-9	$2,943	$2,454
O-10	$2,943	$2,454

Will BAH cover the rent in Des Moines, IA?

Three official numbers for Polk County, Iowa, side by side:

E-5 with dependents BAH (2026): $1,770/month, tax-free
HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-bedroom (2026, new leases): $1,318/month
Median gross rent, all leases (Census ACS 2023): $1,113/month

At the county median rent, an E-5 with dependents keeps about $657 of the allowance each month. Rent below the median and the difference is yours to keep.

The two rents measure different things: HUD tracks what new tenants pay this year; the Census figure averages every lease in the county, including older ones. If you are signing now, expect the higher end. Sources: HUD USER Fair Market Rents · US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates.

How Des Moines, IA BAH is calculated

Rates are built from local rental market data for the housing area, not from your actual rent. The Department of Defense surveys median rent, utilities, and renter's insurance for six housing profiles, then assigns each pay grade a profile. Because the figure follows the area and not the lease, a service member who finds cheaper housing keeps the difference — and one who overspends covers it themselves.

Dependents change the rate but the number of dependents does not: one child and four children pay the same. Rates are reviewed every year and published in December for the following January.

Work out your own figure

Figures come from official Department of Defense sources. BaseNeed is an independent community platform and is not affiliated with the DoD — verify current rates before making financial decisions.