County Cost Group 540 BAH Rates 2026
County Cost Group 540 (MHA ZZ540) is one of the county cost groups the Department of Defense uses to set Basic Allowance for Housing for rural ZIP codes across the United States that are not assigned to a named Military Housing Area. It covers 366 ZIP codes, including 24701 and 47384. If your duty station ZIP code falls in this group, the table on this page is your 2026 BAH rate table. An E-5 with dependents here receives $1,344 per month in tax-free BAH, and an O-3 without dependents receives $1,530 per month.
Last updated: October 2026
Your BAH in County Cost Group 540
2026 BAH rate table for County Cost Group 540
The full published 2026 locality table for MHA ZZ540, monthly amounts in US dollars:
| Pay grade | Without dependents | With dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,005 | $1,242 |
| E-2 | $1,005 | $1,242 |
| E-3 | $1,005 | $1,242 |
| E-4 | $1,005 | $1,242 |
| E-5 | $1,086 | $1,344 |
| E-6 | $1,230 | $1,641 |
| E-7 | $1,281 | $1,707 |
| E-8 | $1,407 | $1,782 |
| E-9 | $1,488 | $1,890 |
| W-1 | $1,245 | $1,659 |
| W-2 | $1,404 | $1,737 |
| W-3 | $1,503 | $1,830 |
| W-4 | $1,650 | $1,911 |
| W-5 | $1,722 | $2,016 |
| O-1 | $1,140 | $1,386 |
| O-2 | $1,314 | $1,638 |
| O-3 | $1,530 | $1,827 |
| O-4 | $1,704 | $2,046 |
| O-5 | $1,740 | $2,205 |
| O-6 | $1,806 | $2,220 |
| O-7+ | $1,836 | $2,232 |
Rates took effect on January 1, 2026. The O-7+ row also covers O-8, O-9, and O-10, who are paid at the O-7 locality rate. BAH is a tax-free allowance, so these amounts are worth more than the same figures in taxable basic pay.
Worked examples for County Cost Group 540
An E-5 with dependents in this area receives $1,344 per month, or $16,128 over a full year. An E-7 with dependents receives $1,707 per month ($20,484 per year). An O-3 without dependents receives $1,530 per month ($18,360 per year). If your rent comes in below your rate, you keep the difference; if it runs above, the difference comes out of pocket.
Good to know about BAH in this area
Rate protection: if 2026 rates for this area fell for your grade, you keep your earlier higher rate for as long as you stay at this duty station with no break in eligibility. Changing stations: when you PCS, this table stops applying and the new station's MHA table takes over. Barracks and government quarters: members living in government quarters generally do not receive BAH, with narrow exceptions such as having dependents who live elsewhere. Finding your ZIP: if you are unsure which MHA your orders fall under, check the ZIP code of your duty station against the official lookup linked below.
BAH rates in nearby areas
- County Cost Group 520 BAH rates (MHA ZZ520)
- County Cost Group 530 BAH rates (MHA ZZ530)
- County Cost Group 550 BAH rates (MHA ZZ550)
- County Cost Group 560 BAH rates (MHA ZZ560)
See the full index of 2026 BAH rates by location, or use the BAH calculator for the RC/Transient baseline rates and a deeper guide to how BAH works.
County Cost Group 540 BAH FAQs
What is the 2026 BAH rate for an E-5 in County Cost Group 540?
An E-5 in the County Cost Group 540 area (ZZ540) receives $1,344 per month with dependents or $1,086 per month without dependents in 2026. BAH is tax-free, and the rate took effect on January 1, 2026.
What is the highest BAH rate in County Cost Group 540?
The highest 2026 locality rate in County Cost Group 540 is $2,232 per month, paid to an O-7 through O-10 with dependents. Rates top out at the O-7 level: O-8, O-9, and O-10 are paid at the same locality rate as O-7.
Does this BAH table apply to every installation in the County Cost Group 540 area?
Yes. BAH is set by duty station ZIP code, not by installation. This MHA covers 366 ZIP codes, and every duty station inside them uses this same table for 2026, across all services.
Why is my BAH different from the 2026 table?
Common reasons are BAH rate protection (you keep a higher earlier rate while you stay at the same station), a dependent status that differs from the one you looked up, or living in government quarters, where BAH generally is not paid. Your LES and your finance office are the final word on your individual rate.