Compare military bases / Columbus Air Force Base → MacDill Air Force Base
Columbus AFB → MacDill
Compare Columbus Air Force Base and MacDill Air Force Base
Will my BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) go up or down if I move from Columbus Air Force Base to MacDill Air Force Base?
This calculator uses 2026 DTMO (Defense Travel Management Office) rates for selected pay grade and dependent status.
Monthly BAH at E-5 pay grade without dependents.
- Columbus Air Force Base
- $1,158
- MacDill Air Force Base
- $2,187
- Higher BAH at MacDill Air Force Base
BAH minus HUD 2-bedroom rent for the ZIP nearest each base.
- Columbus Air Force Base
- +$128/mo
- MacDill Air Force Base
- −$113/mo
Housing just outside the gate: Columbus vs Tampa
Rents shown on table are the 40th-percentile for 2 and 3 bedroom figures for the residential ZIP code nearest the base.
| Columbus Air Force Base Columbus 39705 | MacDill Air Force Base Tampa 33616 | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (city) | $125,700 | $420,400 |
| Median gross rent (city) | $897/mo | $1,701 |
| HUD ZIP 2-BR rent | $1,030/mo | $2,300 |
| HUD ZIP 3-BR rent | $1,410/mo | $2,940 |
| HUD metro 2-BR rent (wider area) | $872/mo | $1,977 |
| E-5 without dependents minus 2-BR | +$128/mo | −$113/mo |
| E-5 with dependents minus 3-BR | −$12/mo | −$231/mo |
E-5 without dependents vs a HUD 2-bedroom is +$128/mo at Columbus Air Force Base vs −$113/mo at MacDill Air Force Base. E-5 with dependents vs a 3-bedroom is −$12/mo vs −$231/mo.
Host-state comparison: Mississippi vs. Florida
| Mississippi | Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| Sales tax | 7.06% | 6.98% |
| Property tax | 0.58% | 0.78% |
| Personal property tax | Yes — 3.42% effective | No |
| Top state income tax | 4.0% | 0.0% |
| Median home value | $196,428 | $378,667 |
| Branch | Air Force | Air Force |
| HUD 2-BR FMR | $872 | $1,977 |
| Climate high/low | 76° / 54°F | 83° / 66°F |
| Annual precip | 57.4 in | 49.5 in |
| Nearby city | Columbus | Tampa |
| Host state | Mississippi | Florida |
Click here for the full state comparison: Mississippi → Florida
PCS checklist for MacDill Air Force Base
- Update DEERS. BAH at MacDill Air Force Base uses MHA FL066 (ZIP 33621).
- Look up your exact rate on the DTMO BAH lookup.
- HUD 2-bedroom FMR near MacDill Air Force Base is $1,977/mo. On-base housing is separate.
- New Florida residents typically have 30 days for a license and 30 days to title a car.
- Reporting: MacDill Air Force Base.
Biggest differences
- E-5 with-dependents BAH is higher at MacDill Air Force Base ($2,709 vs $1,398).
- Median owner-occupied home value in the off-base city is $420,400 in Tampa vs $125,700 in Columbus (Census ACS 5-year, 2020–2024).
- HUD ZIP 2-bedroom rent just outside the gate is $2,300 in 33616 vs $1,030 in 39705.
- Host-state wage tax is Top listed rate 4.0% in Mississippi vs No personal income tax in Florida (military pay usually follows legal residence, not the duty station).
- Combined sales tax averages 6.98% in Florida vs 7.06% in Mississippi.
Common questions
Can I PCS from Columbus Air Force Base to MacDill Air Force Base?
This pair is listed because the installations share a tenant service (Air Force). Your actual orders depend on your MOS/AFSC/rating and the gaining unit.
How does BAH change from Columbus Air Force Base to MacDill Air Force Base?
DTMO CY2026 with- and without-dependents rates for every pay grade are in the BAH table on this page. E-5 with dependents: $1,398 vs $2,709; without dependents: $1,158 vs $2,187.
What is local rent like near MacDill Air Force Base?
HUD FY2026 Small Area FMR for ZIP 33616 (Tampa) is $2,300/mo for a 2-bedroom and $2,940/mo for a 3-bedroom. The wider metro 2-BR FMR is $1,977/mo.
What do homes cost in Columbus vs Tampa?
Census ACS 5-year (2020–2024) median value of owner-occupied homes is $125,700 in Columbus city, Mississippi vs $420,400 in Tampa city, Florida. Median gross rent in those cities is $897 vs $1,701. These are city medians (owners’ reported values), not last month’s sale prices.
Will BAH cover off-base rent if I PCS from Columbus Air Force Base to MacDill Air Force Base?
E-5 without dependents minus a HUD 2-bedroom is +$128/mo at Columbus Air Force Base vs −$113/mo at MacDill Air Force Base. E-5 with dependents minus a 3-bedroom is −$12/mo vs −$231/mo. Use the calculator for other pay grades. Actual listings vary; BAH is untaxed housing pay, not a rent cap.
Does my state income tax change if I PCS from Columbus Air Force Base to MacDill Air Force Base?
Usually not just because the duty station changes. Military pay generally follows legal residence under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act; spouses may have similar protection. Mississippi: Top listed rate 4.0%. Florida: No personal income tax. BAH is not taxed. Sales tax and titling a car follow the state you live in.
Related PCS
MacDill Air Force Base → Columbus Air Force Base · Eglin Air Force Base → MacDill Air Force Base
Your PCS
Only destinations that share a service with the origin are listed.
Sources
Housing figures below are for the installation (MHA, HUD rent, climate). Host-state tax rates in the snapshot above BAH are statewide averages — not a tax return. County add-ons can differ, and wage tax on military pay follows legal residence, not the duty station.
- BAH (with and without dependents). DTMO CY2026 BAH tables for Columbus Air Force Base (MS169); MacDill Air Force Base (FL066). Confirm current rates on the DTMO BAH lookup.
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent. HUD FY2026 FMR — Lowndes County $872; Hillsborough County $1,977.
- Off-base ZIP rent (HUD Small Area FMR). FY2026 ZIP 2- and 3-bedroom 40th-percentile rents from the HUD Small Area FMR tables: 39705 (Columbus) $1,030 / $1,410; 33616 (Tampa) $2,300 / $2,940.
- Off-base city home value and rent. U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year 2020–2024 tables B25077 (median value of owner-occupied homes) and B25064 (median gross rent) for Columbus city, Mississippi ($125,700, $897/mo) and Tampa city, Florida ($420,400, $1,701/mo). Owner-reported values, not transaction prices.
- Climate normals (1991–2020). NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals — Jackson Intl (NWS) (USW00003940); Tampa Intl (NWS) (USW00012842).
- Host-state wage tax. Statewide listed rates for Mississippi and Florida from the Tax Foundation 2026 individual income-tax tables. On this page they describe the host state, not automatically the tax on a military LES (legal residence can stay put). BAH is untaxed.
- Combined sales tax near the installation. Tax Foundation January 2026 state-and-local sales-tax averages for Mississippi and Florida. Used as an off-base shopping stand-in; city and county add-ons vary.
- Effective property tax if you buy off-base. Tax Foundation 2026 property taxes by state for Mississippi and Florida. On-base housing is not in this figure.
- Vehicle title tax and new-resident clocks. Mississippi motor-vehicle agency (license 30 days, title 30 days; title tax 7.00%); Florida motor-vehicle agency (license 30 days, title 30 days; title tax 6.00%). These are host-state motor-vehicle rules, not BAH.
- Vehicle personal-property tax on the host-state snapshot. WalletHub 2026 vehicle property-tax table for Mississippi and Florida. This is a statewide car-tax flag, not real-estate tax and not BAH.
- Statewide median home value on the host-state snapshot. Experian / Zillow March 2026 state medians for Mississippi and Florida. Backdrop for off-base purchase prices; on-base housing and BAH are separate.