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OHA Rates Australia 2026
OCONUSOverseas Housing Allowance rent ceilings, utility allowance and MIHA for all 29 Australian localities — effective August 16, 2026.
Localities
29
in the DTMO Australia table
Utility allowance
A$848.00
$591.60 / month, with dependents
MIHA (misc.)
A$1,239.00
$864.38 one-time, on move-in
Effective
16 AUGUST 2026
1 AUD = $0.70 (DTMO rate)
This page is the 2026 DTMO OHA table for Australia: the monthly rent ceiling for every pay grade in all 29 localities (MRF-Darwin, Pine Gap, NAVCOMMSTA Harold E. Holt), plus the utility allowance and MIHA, effective August 16, 2026. To see what OHA pays on a specific lease, with your rent measured against the ceiling in AUD and dollars, use the OHA calculator.
E-5 with dependents: rent reimbursed up to the ceiling shown, plus a flat utility allowance of A$848.00 ($591.60) per month.
Australia OHA rent ceilings — E-5 with dependents
| Locality | Rent ceiling (AUD) | Rent ceiling (USD) | Rent + utility (USD/mo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | A$2,416.00 | $1,685.50 | $2,277.10 |
| Alice Springs | A$2,607.00 | $1,818.75 | $2,410.35 |
| Brisbane | A$3,048.00 | $2,126.41 | $2,718.01 |
| Canberra | A$3,857.00 | $2,690.81 | $3,282.41 |
| Darwin | A$2,461.00 | $1,716.90 | $2,308.50 |
| Edinburgh | A$2,271.00 | $1,584.34 | $2,175.95 |
| Enogerra Barracks | A$2,571.00 | $1,793.64 | $2,385.24 |
| Exmouth (incl Harold E. Holt Navcommsta) | A$1,466.00 | $1,022.74 | $1,614.34 |
| Fremantle | A$2,667.00 | $1,860.61 | $2,452.21 |
| Glenbrook | A$2,051.00 | $1,430.86 | $2,022.46 |
| Learmonth | A$1,466.00 | $1,022.74 | $1,614.34 |
| Melbourne | A$3,114.00 | $2,172.46 | $2,764.06 |
| Narrabri | A$1,466.00 | $1,022.74 | $1,614.34 |
| Newcastle | A$2,640.00 | $1,841.77 | $2,433.38 |
| Nowra (incl Jervis Bay) | A$1,762.00 | $1,229.25 | $1,820.85 |
| Other (Adf Housing) | A$1,166.00 | $813.45 | $1,405.05 |
| Other (Non-Adf Housing) | A$1,466.00 | $1,022.74 | $1,614.34 |
| Other New South Wales (Non-Adf Housing) | A$3,621.00 | $2,526.16 | $3,117.76 |
| Other Queensland (Non-Adf Housing) | A$1,466.00 | $1,022.74 | $1,614.34 |
| Other Victoria (Non-Adf Housing) | A$1,466.00 | $1,022.74 | $1,614.34 |
| Other Western Australia (Non-Adf Housing) | A$1,466.00 | $1,022.74 | $1,614.34 |
| Perth (Adf Housing) | A$2,977.00 | $2,076.88 | $2,668.48 |
| Perth (Non-Adf Housing) | A$2,977.00 | $2,076.88 | $2,668.48 |
| Queenscliff | A$727.00 | $507.19 | $1,098.79 |
| Raaf Amberley | A$2,006.00 | $1,399.47 | $1,991.07 |
| Raaf Tindal | A$1,105.00 | $770.89 | $1,362.49 |
| Raaf Williamtown | A$3,733.00 | $2,604.30 | $3,195.90 |
| Richmond | A$2,560.00 | $1,785.96 | $2,377.56 |
| Sydney | A$4,750.00 | $3,313.80 | $3,905.40 |
Source: DTMO Overseas Housing Allowance rate tables (per-country workbooks, "current" sheet) with full-precision exchange rates from Appendix K Part II. Members without dependents: rental ceiling x90%, utility/recurring maintenance x75%, MIHA unreduced. Table effective August 16, 2026; snapshot taken 2026-09-04. Verify any figure on the DTMO OHA Rate Lookup.
Highest rent ceilings · E-5 with dependents
- SydneyA$4,750.00 · $3,313.80
- CanberraA$3,857.00 · $2,690.81
- Raaf WilliamtownA$3,733.00 · $2,604.30
Lowest rent ceilings · E-5 with dependents
- QueenscliffA$727.00 · $507.19
- Raaf TindalA$1,105.00 · $770.89
- Other (Adf Housing)A$1,166.00 · $813.45
How OHA works in Australia
The rent ceiling is a cap, not a payment. OHA reimburses the rent you actually pay, up to the ceiling for your locality and grade. If your lease is below the ceiling you receive your rent; if it is above, you pay the difference out of pocket. That is the key difference from stateside BAH, where the full rate is paid regardless of rent.
The utility allowance is flat. Australia pays A$848.00 ($591.60) per month with dependents for utilities and recurring maintenance, and 75% of that without dependents. It is paid whether your bills are higher or lower, so efficient housing puts money in your pocket.
MIHA covers move-in costs. The miscellaneous MIHA of A$1,239.00 ($864.38) is paid once when you move into private rental housing and is not reduced for members without dependents. Receipt-based MIHA rent and MIHA security payments are separate and handled by the housing office.
Dollar amounts move twice a month. Australia OHA is set in AUD. DTMO converts it to dollars at an official exchange rate ($0.70 per AUD in the current table) that is revised on the 1st and 16th, so your LES amount changes even when the AUD ceiling does not. This page is regenerated from the DTMO tables on the same schedule.
While you are still house-hunting, the TLA calculator covers temporary lodging on arrival, and overseas COLA starts the day you report. For the exact OHA on a specific lease — your rent against the ceiling, in AUD and dollars — use the OHA calculator.
OHA rates in other countries
FAQ
Australia OHA — frequently asked questions
- What is the OHA rent ceiling in Australia for 2026?
- It depends on the locality and your pay grade. Across the 29 Australian localities in the current DTMO table (effective August 16, 2026), the E-5 with-dependents rent ceiling runs from A$727.00 ($507.19) in Queenscliff to A$4,750.00 ($3,313.80) in Sydney. The table on this page shows every grade; the OHA calculator applies your actual rent.
- What is the OHA utility allowance in Australia?
- A$848.00 ($591.60) per month with dependents, and 75% of that (A$636.00 ($443.70)) for a member without dependents. The utility and recurring-maintenance allowance is paid flat on top of your rent, so if your actual utilities cost less you keep the difference — unlike the rent portion, which only reimburses what you actually pay up to the ceiling.
- How much is MIHA in Australia?
- The MIHA (miscellaneous) move-in housing allowance for Australia is A$1,239.00 ($864.38), paid once when you move into private rental housing. It is not reduced for members without dependents. MIHA rent and MIHA security are separate, receipt-based payments handled by your housing office.
- Do members without dependents get less OHA in Australia?
- Yes. A member without dependents receives 90% of the with-dependents rent ceiling and 75% of the utility allowance; MIHA is paid in full. Toggle "without dependents" on this page to see every Australia locality at those rates.
- How often do Australia OHA rates change?
- Two ways. DTMO revises the AUD rent ceilings as new rental data is collected, and it revises the exchange rate used to convert AUD to dollars on the 1st and 16th of each month. This page is rebuilt automatically from the DTMO tables on that same schedule (current table effective August 16, 2026, exchange rate 0.6976 USD per AUD).
Keep going
Overseas pay + housing tools
REF: DoD FMR Vol. 7A, Ch. 26 (BAH & OHA), effective August 16, 2026
DTMO OHA rate tables — Australia (16 AUGUST 2026)
Results are estimates. Always verify with your finance office.