Military COLA Calculator
All branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force
CONUS COLA is only available in CA, MA, and NY (2026). Enter your 5-digit duty station ZIP.
Enter Your Details
Select your pay grade, years of service, dependency status, and duty station to see your estimated COLA entitlement.
How to Use the Military COLA Calculator
Choose CONUS or OCONUS Mode
Select CONUS COLA if you are stationed within the 48 contiguous United States. Select OCONUS COLA if you are stationed overseas or in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, or other non-contiguous U.S. territories. The inputs will change based on your selection.
Enter Your Pay Grade and Years of Service
Choose your military pay grade from the dropdown — covering all enlisted (E-1 to E-9), warrant officer (W-1 to W-5), and commissioned officer (O-1 to O-10) grades. Then select the years-of-service bracket that applies to you. Higher grades and more years of service generally yield higher COLA amounts.
Set Dependency Status and Duty Station
Select 'With Dependents' or 'Without Dependents' — dependency status significantly affects your COLA rate in both CONUS and OCONUS modes. For CONUS, enter your 5-digit duty station ZIP code. For OCONUS, choose your installation from the dropdown list of 34 major overseas and non-contiguous U.S. bases.
Review Results and Export
The calculator instantly shows your estimated monthly and annual COLA, location COLA index, taxable status, and a visual chart showing COLA in the context of your total compensation. For OCONUS, a side-by-side dependency comparison and tax-equivalent value are also shown. Use the Export CSV or Print buttons to save your results.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between CONUS COLA and OCONUS COLA?
CONUS COLA (Continental U.S.) is a taxable allowance paid to service members stationed in high-cost stateside locations where non-housing costs exceed the national average by 7% or more. In 2026, only areas in California, Massachusetts, and New York qualify. OCONUS COLA (Overseas) is a non-taxable allowance paid to those stationed outside the 48 contiguous states — overseas countries, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and U.S. territories. Both cover non-housing costs (food, transportation, clothing, personal care), but OCONUS COLA's non-taxable status makes it more valuable per dollar compared to taxable CONUS COLA.
Why is my CONUS ZIP code showing as 'not eligible'?
CONUS COLA is only available in locations where the DoD has determined that non-housing costs exceed the national average by at least 7%. In 2026, this is limited to specific high-cost areas within California, Massachusetts, and New York. Most ZIP codes in the U.S. — including expensive cities like Washington D.C., Chicago, Seattle, and Denver — do not qualify because their non-housing cost premiums fall below the 7% threshold. If you believe your duty station should qualify, verify using the official DTMO CONUS COLA lookup at travel.dod.mil. Not all ZIP codes within eligible states will qualify — eligibility is determined by specific duty station location, not just the state.
How is OCONUS COLA calculated, and why does it change?
OCONUS COLA is calculated using the Spendable Income Model. Your estimated annual spendable income — the portion of your Regular Military Compensation you spend on non-housing goods — is multiplied by a location cost factor derived from the COLA index: (Index − 100) / 100. So at Yokota AB, Japan (index 130), costs are 30% above the U.S. baseline. OCONUS COLA changes continuously because it is tied to Retail Price Surveys conducted by the DTMO at local shopping venues used by service members. Exchange rate fluctuations, local inflation, and changes in what service members buy can all cause index updates. Per DoD policy, COLA decreases are capped at once per 6-month period.
Does COLA count toward retirement pay or TSP matching?
No. Military COLA is an allowance, not part of basic pay. Military retirement is calculated based solely on basic pay (under both the legacy High-3 system and Blended Retirement System). Similarly, COLA does not count as compensation for Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) matching purposes — TSP matching is based on basic pay contributions. OCONUS COLA's non-taxable status also means it does not appear as income on your W-2 or factor into adjusted gross income, which can be advantageous for eligibility thresholds on tax credits and deductions.
What does the OCONUS COLA index number mean in practical terms?
The OCONUS COLA index is a relative cost measure compared to a U.S. baseline of 100. An index of 130 at Yokota AB, Japan means non-housing goods and services (food, transportation, clothing, personal care, recreation) cost approximately 30% more there than in an average U.S. location. An index of 105 in Bahrain means costs are only 5% higher. The COLA payment offsets exactly that percentage difference on your estimated spendable income. Locations with index 100 or below receive no COLA — your spending power is at or above the U.S. baseline, so no offset is needed.
How does COLA compare to BAH, and can I receive both?
COLA and BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) cover different expense categories and use different eligibility criteria. BAH covers housing costs specifically — rent or mortgage equivalent — and is determined by your duty station ZIP code, pay grade, and dependency status. COLA covers non-housing costs like food, transportation, and clothing. You can receive both BAH and OCONUS COLA simultaneously if stationed overseas with a qualifying housing allowance (or OHA). In CONUS, BAH is nearly universal for those not in on-base housing, while COLA is only paid in qualifying high-cost areas. The two allowances are independent, calculated separately, and both non-countable toward retirement calculations.