Colorado Springs Military Housing & 2026 BAH Rates

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) in Colorado Springs saw a significant increase for 2026, reflecting the area's continued housing market growth. Whether you plan to live on-post with Fort Carson's Corvias communities or off-post in neighborhoods like Fountain or Briargate, understanding your BAH is the foundation of your housing budget.

2026 BAH Rate Table — Colorado Springs (MHA: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO)

Grade	Without Dependents	With Dependents
E-1	$1,161	$1,467
E-2	$1,161	$1,467
E-3	$1,161	$1,467
E-4	$1,161	$1,629
E-5	$1,449	$1,890
E-6	$1,575	$2,022
E-7	$1,710	$2,133
E-8	$1,827	$2,268
E-9	$2,016	$2,520
W-1	$1,692	$2,133
W-2	$1,818	$2,268
W-3	$2,016	$2,412
W-4	$2,223	$2,637
W-5	$2,448	$2,907
O-1E	$1,692	$2,133
O-2E	$1,818	$2,268
O-3E	$2,223	$2,637
O-1	$1,530	$1,971
O-2	$1,782	$2,151
O-3	$2,088	$2,520
O-4	$2,448	$2,907
O-5	$2,790	$3,213
O-6	$3,105	$3,573

Source: DoD BAH calculator. Always verify at militarypay.defense.gov — rates are effective January 1, 2026 and may be updated mid-year.

On-Post Housing at Fort Carson

Fort Carson's on-post housing is managed by Corvias Military Living. The communities are organized by grade and family size, and all are located within the installation boundaries, offering short commutes and access to post facilities.

Corvias Communities at Fort Carson

Chestnut Commons: Junior enlisted (E-1 to E-4), 2–3 bedroom homes, older construction. Waitlist: 2–4 months.
Iron Horse Park: Mid-grade (E-5 to E-6), 3 bedroom homes with attached garages. Community pool and playground. Waitlist: 1–3 months.
Pershing Heights: NCO and officer, 3–4 bedroom homes. Newer construction, close to Evans Army Hospital. Waitlist: 3–6 months.
Legacy Village: Senior NCO and officers (O-4+), 4 bedroom homes with larger lots. Waitlist: 6–12 months for O-5/O-6.

  Note on BAH and On-Post Housing: If you move into on-post Corvias housing, your BAH is paid directly to Corvias — you will not receive it as cash. The rent is set equal to your BAH rate, so you have no out-of-pocket housing cost but also no opportunity to save BAH by finding cheaper off-post housing.

Off-Post Housing — Rent Ranges by Neighborhood

Neighborhood	1BR Apt	2BR Apt	3BR Home	4BR Home	Commute to Carson
Fountain	$900–$1,050	$1,100–$1,350	$1,400–$1,700	$1,700–$2,100	10–15 min
Security-Widefield	$950–$1,100	$1,150–$1,400	$1,450–$1,800	$1,800–$2,200	15–20 min
Lorson Ranch	N/A	$1,300–$1,600	$1,600–$2,000	$2,000–$2,400	15–20 min
Pueblo West	$850–$1,000	$1,000–$1,250	$1,350–$1,650	$1,650–$2,000	35–45 min
Colorado Springs South	$1,000–$1,200	$1,200–$1,500	$1,550–$1,900	$1,900–$2,300	20–30 min
Briargate	$1,100–$1,350	$1,350–$1,650	$1,800–$2,200	$2,200–$2,700	35–50 min
Falcon	$950–$1,100	$1,150–$1,400	$1,600–$1,950	$1,950–$2,400	40–55 min
Monument	$1,050–$1,250	$1,300–$1,600	$1,800–$2,200	$2,200–$2,800	50–65 min

Renting vs. Buying in Colorado Springs

With a median home price around $385,000–$420,000 in 2026 and mortgage rates between 6.5–7.5%, the rent vs. buy calculation in Colorado Springs depends heavily on your tour length. Here's a quick framework:

PCS tour of 2 years or less: Renting is almost always the better financial choice. Transaction costs on buying and selling eat 6–8% of home value, easily wiping out any equity gained.
3-year tour: Break-even territory. If you plan to keep the home as a rental after PCS, buying may make sense — Colorado Springs has a strong military rental market.
4+ years or planning to stay: Buying often makes sense. The Colorado Springs market has appreciated steadily, and VA loans offer no down payment and no PMI.

For more guidance, read our deep-dive: BAH Colorado Springs 2026: Renting vs. Buying at Every Rank.