PCS Move
OHA Calculator
OCONUSYour overseas rent ceiling, utility allowance and move-in allowance — in local currency and dollars.
Search 900+ overseas places covering the 621 rate localities in the official DTMO country tables. A handful of localities DTMO lists have no published table — those still need the DTMO lookup.
OHA reimburses your actual rent up to the ceiling — unlike BAH, you do not keep the difference.
Rent ceiling
The maximum monthly rent OHA will reimburse for your grade and locality. You are paid your actual rent up to this cap — never more, and you keep nothing below it.
Utility / recurring maintenance
A flat monthly amount for utilities and upkeep, paid whether or not you spend it. This is the piece where spending less means keeping the difference.
MIHA (move-in)
A one-time payment toward the costs of setting up a home overseas, such as deposits and fixtures. It is not reduced for members without dependents.
About this entitlement
What you need to know — straight from the regulation
OHA is not BAH
BAH pays a fixed monthly rate regardless of what you actually pay, so a member who rents below the rate keeps the difference. OHA does not work that way: it reimburses your actual documented rent, capped at the rent ceiling for your grade and locality. Rent below the ceiling and you are simply paid less. The utility/recurring maintenance allowance is the exception — it is a flat amount, so underspending there does leave money in your pocket.
DoD FMR Vol. 7A, Ch. 26
Why the dollar amount moves twice a month
Ceilings are set in local currency — euros in Germany, yen in Japan, won in Korea — but you are paid in dollars. DoD revises its pay-system exchange rate on the 1st and the 16th of every month, so your dollar OHA can change twice a month while the local-currency ceiling has not moved at all. Some countries publish their tables directly in US dollars; for those, no conversion applies.
DTMO Appendix K Part II (exchange rates)
Members without dependents
The rent ceiling is 90% of the with-dependents figure. The utility/recurring maintenance allowance is 75%. MIHA is paid at the full amount either way. These are three different factors, and applying the 90% to all of them overstates what a single member actually receives.
DTMO OHA rate tables
Tax treatment
OHA is non-taxable and is not reported as wages on your W-2.
DoD FMR Vol. 7A
Source & references
- Primary source
- Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) — Overseas Housing Allowance rate tables — view official publication
- Regulatory reference
- DoD FMR Vol. 7A, Ch. 26 · DTMO OHA rate tables + Appendix K Part II
- Effective date
- Rates revise on the 1st and 16th — always confirm before signing a lease
Military Toolkit is not affiliated with the Department of Defense, DFAS, DTMO, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or any government agency. Rates and rules on this page are pulled directly from the publications cited above. Always verify with your finance office, TMO, or the official rate page before making financial or planning decisions.
FAQ
OHA — frequently asked questions
- How much OHA will I get?
- Your OHA has three parts: a rent ceiling that varies by locality and pay grade, a flat utility/recurring maintenance allowance, and a one-time MIHA for move-in costs. Enter your locality and grade above to see all three in local currency and dollars. OHA reimburses your actual rent up to the ceiling — if you rent below it you are paid less, unlike BAH where you keep the difference.
- Is OHA different without dependents?
- Yes, and by three different factors. The rent ceiling drops to 90% of the with-dependents amount, the utility/recurring maintenance allowance drops to 75%, and MIHA is not reduced at all. Applying the 90% figure to everything overstates what a single member actually receives.
- Why does my OHA change twice a month?
- Ceilings are set in local currency but you are paid in dollars, and DoD revises its pay-system exchange rate on the 1st and the 16th of every month. Your dollar amount moves with it even when the local-currency ceiling has not changed. Some countries publish their tables directly in US dollars, and those do not fluctuate.
- Can I keep leftover OHA?
- Not from the rental part. OHA pays your actual documented rent up to the ceiling, so renting below the ceiling simply pays you less. The utility/recurring maintenance allowance is different — it is a flat monthly amount, so if your utilities cost less than the allowance you keep the difference.
- Is OHA taxable?
- No. OHA is non-taxable and is not reported as wages on your W-2.
Browse OHA rates by country
Want the whole table instead of one locality? These pages list every rent ceiling in the country for your grade, with the utility allowance and MIHA.
Keep going
Overseas pay + housing tools
REF: DoD FMR Vol 7A, Ch 26, effective Rates revise on the 1st and 16th of each month
Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO)
Results are estimates. Always verify with your finance office.
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