Compare military bases / Eglin Air Force Base → Columbus Air Force Base
Eglin → Columbus AFB
Compare Eglin Air Force Base and Columbus Air Force Base
Will my BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) go up or down if I move from Eglin Air Force Base to Columbus 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.
- Eglin Air Force Base
- $2,157
- Columbus Air Force Base
- $1,158
- Lower BAH at Columbus Air Force Base
BAH minus HUD 2-bedroom rent for the ZIP nearest each base.
- Eglin Air Force Base
- +$527/mo
- Columbus Air Force Base
- +$128/mo
Housing just outside the gate: Valparaiso vs Columbus
Rents shown on table are the 40th-percentile for 2 and 3 bedroom figures for the residential ZIP code nearest the base.
| Eglin Air Force Base Valparaiso 32580 | Columbus Air Force Base Columbus 39705 | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (city) | $394,700 | $125,700 |
| Median gross rent (city) | $1,366/mo | $897 |
| HUD ZIP 2-BR rent | $1,630/mo | $1,030 |
| HUD ZIP 3-BR rent | $2,240/mo | $1,410 |
| HUD metro 2-BR rent (wider area) | $1,785/mo | $872 |
| E-5 without dependents minus 2-BR | +$527/mo | +$128/mo |
| E-5 with dependents minus 3-BR | +$193/mo | −$12/mo |
E-5 without dependents vs a HUD 2-bedroom is +$527/mo at Eglin Air Force Base vs +$128/mo at Columbus Air Force Base. E-5 with dependents vs a 3-bedroom is +$193/mo vs −$12/mo.
Host-state comparison: Florida vs. Mississippi
| Florida | Mississippi | |
|---|---|---|
| Sales tax | 6.98% | 7.06% |
| Property tax | 0.78% | 0.58% |
| Personal property tax | No | Yes — 3.42% effective |
| Top state income tax | 0.0% | 4.0% |
| Median home value | $378,667 | $196,428 |
| Branch | Air Force | Air Force |
| HUD 2-BR FMR | $1,785 | $872 |
| Climate high/low | 84° / 71°F | 76° / 54°F |
| Annual precip | 67.4 in | 57.4 in |
| Nearby city | Valparaiso | Columbus |
| Host state | Florida | Mississippi |
Click here for the full state comparison: Florida → Mississippi
PCS checklist for Columbus Air Force Base
- Update DEERS. BAH at Columbus Air Force Base uses MHA MS169 (ZIP 39710).
- Look up your exact rate on the DTMO BAH lookup.
- HUD 2-bedroom FMR near Columbus Air Force Base is $872/mo. On-base housing is separate.
- New Mississippi residents typically have 30 days for a license and 30 days to title a car.
- Reporting: Columbus Air Force Base.
Biggest differences
- E-5 with-dependents BAH is lower at Columbus Air Force Base ($1,398 vs $2,433).
- Median owner-occupied home value in the off-base city is $125,700 in Columbus vs $394,700 in Valparaiso (Census ACS 5-year, 2020–2024).
- HUD ZIP 2-bedroom rent just outside the gate is $1,030 in 39705 vs $1,630 in 32580.
- Host-state wage tax is No personal income tax in Florida vs Top listed rate 4.0% in Mississippi (military pay usually follows legal residence, not the duty station).
- Combined sales tax averages 7.06% in Mississippi vs 6.98% in Florida.
Common questions
Can I PCS from Eglin Air Force Base to Columbus 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 Eglin Air Force Base to Columbus 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: $2,433 vs $1,398; without dependents: $2,157 vs $1,158.
What is local rent like near Columbus Air Force Base?
HUD FY2026 Small Area FMR for ZIP 39705 (Columbus) is $1,030/mo for a 2-bedroom and $1,410/mo for a 3-bedroom. The wider metro 2-BR FMR is $872/mo.
What do homes cost in Valparaiso vs Columbus?
Census ACS 5-year (2020–2024) median value of owner-occupied homes is $394,700 in Valparaiso city, Florida vs $125,700 in Columbus city, Mississippi. Median gross rent in those cities is $1,366 vs $897. These are city medians (owners’ reported values), not last month’s sale prices.
Will BAH cover off-base rent if I PCS from Eglin Air Force Base to Columbus Air Force Base?
E-5 without dependents minus a HUD 2-bedroom is +$527/mo at Eglin Air Force Base vs +$128/mo at Columbus Air Force Base. E-5 with dependents minus a 3-bedroom is +$193/mo vs −$12/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 Eglin Air Force Base to Columbus 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. Florida: No personal income tax. Mississippi: Top listed rate 4.0%. BAH is not taxed. Sales tax and titling a car follow the state you live in.
Related PCS
Columbus Air Force Base → Eglin 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 Eglin Air Force Base (FL056); Columbus Air Force Base (MS169). Confirm current rates on the DTMO BAH lookup.
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent. HUD FY2026 FMR — Okaloosa County $1,785; Lowndes County $872.
- Off-base ZIP rent (HUD Small Area FMR). FY2026 ZIP 2- and 3-bedroom 40th-percentile rents from the HUD Small Area FMR tables: 32580 (Valparaiso) $1,630 / $2,240; 39705 (Columbus) $1,030 / $1,410.
- 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 Valparaiso city, Florida ($394,700, $1,366/mo) and Columbus city, Mississippi ($125,700, $897/mo). Owner-reported values, not transaction prices.
- Climate normals (1991–2020). NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals — Pensacola Intl (NWS) (USW00012839); Jackson Intl (NWS) (USW00003940).
- Host-state wage tax. Statewide listed rates for Florida and Mississippi 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 Florida and Mississippi. 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 Florida and Mississippi. On-base housing is not in this figure.
- Vehicle title tax and new-resident clocks. Florida motor-vehicle agency (license 30 days, title 30 days; title tax 6.00%); Mississippi motor-vehicle agency (license 30 days, title 30 days; title tax 7.00%). 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 Florida and Mississippi. 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 Florida and Mississippi. Backdrop for off-base purchase prices; on-base housing and BAH are separate.