Compare military bases / Malmstrom Air Force Base → Fairchild Air Force Base
Malmstrom → Fairchild
Compare Malmstrom Air Force Base and Fairchild Air Force Base
Will my BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) go up or down if I move from Malmstrom Air Force Base to Fairchild 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.
- Malmstrom Air Force Base
- $1,392
- Fairchild Air Force Base
- $1,665
- Higher BAH at Fairchild Air Force Base
BAH minus HUD 2-bedroom rent for the ZIP nearest each base.
- Malmstrom Air Force Base
- +$112/mo
- Fairchild Air Force Base
- +$65/mo
Housing just outside the gate: Great Falls vs Spokane
Rents shown on table are the 40th-percentile for 2 and 3 bedroom figures for the residential ZIP code nearest the base.
| Malmstrom Air Force Base Great Falls 59403 | Fairchild Air Force Base Spokane 99224 | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (city) | $257,000 | $363,500 |
| Median gross rent (city) | $900/mo | $1,215 |
| HUD ZIP 2-BR rent | $1,280/mo | $1,600 |
| HUD ZIP 3-BR rent | $1,780/mo | $2,180 |
| HUD metro 2-BR rent (wider area) | $1,284/mo | $1,531 |
| E-5 without dependents minus 2-BR | +$112/mo | +$65/mo |
| E-5 with dependents minus 3-BR | −$172/mo | +$4/mo |
E-5 without dependents vs a HUD 2-bedroom is +$112/mo at Malmstrom Air Force Base vs +$65/mo at Fairchild Air Force Base. E-5 with dependents vs a 3-bedroom is −$172/mo vs +$4/mo.
Host-state comparison: Montana vs. Washington
| Montana | Washington | |
|---|---|---|
| Sales tax | 0.00% | 9.51% |
| Property tax | 0.61% | 0.75% |
| Personal property tax | Yes — 1.13% effective | No |
| Top state income tax | 5.65% | 0.0% |
| Median home value | $472,698 | $609,756 |
| Branch | Air Force | Air Force |
| HUD 2-BR FMR | $1,284 | $1,531 |
| Climate high/low | 57° / 32°F | 58° / 39°F |
| Annual precip | 14.8 in | 16.4 in |
| Nearby city | Great Falls | Spokane |
| Host state | Montana | Washington |
Click here for the full state comparison: Montana → Washington
PCS checklist for Fairchild Air Force Base
- Update DEERS. BAH at Fairchild Air Force Base uses MHA WA310 (ZIP 99011).
- Look up your exact rate on the DTMO BAH lookup.
- HUD 2-bedroom FMR near Fairchild Air Force Base is $1,531/mo. On-base housing is separate.
- New Washington residents typically have 30 days for a license and 30 days to title a car.
- Reporting: Fairchild Air Force Base.
Biggest differences
- E-5 with-dependents BAH is higher at Fairchild Air Force Base ($2,184 vs $1,608).
- Median owner-occupied home value in the off-base city is $363,500 in Spokane vs $257,000 in Great Falls (Census ACS 5-year, 2020–2024).
- HUD ZIP 2-bedroom rent just outside the gate is $1,600 in 99224 vs $1,280 in 59403.
- Host-state wage tax is Top listed rate 5.65% in Montana vs No wage income tax; 7% capital gains over threshold in Washington (military pay usually follows legal residence, not the duty station).
- Combined sales tax averages 9.51% in Washington vs 0% in Montana.
Common questions
Can I PCS from Malmstrom Air Force Base to Fairchild 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 Malmstrom Air Force Base to Fairchild 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: $1,608 vs $2,184; without dependents: $1,392 vs $1,665.
What is local rent like near Fairchild Air Force Base?
HUD FY2026 Small Area FMR for ZIP 99224 (Spokane) is $1,600/mo for a 2-bedroom and $2,180/mo for a 3-bedroom. The wider metro 2-BR FMR is $1,531/mo.
What do homes cost in Great Falls vs Spokane?
Census ACS 5-year (2020–2024) median value of owner-occupied homes is $257,000 in Great Falls city, Montana vs $363,500 in Spokane city, Washington. Median gross rent in those cities is $900 vs $1,215. These are city medians (owners’ reported values), not last month’s sale prices.
Will BAH cover off-base rent if I PCS from Malmstrom Air Force Base to Fairchild Air Force Base?
E-5 without dependents minus a HUD 2-bedroom is +$112/mo at Malmstrom Air Force Base vs +$65/mo at Fairchild Air Force Base. E-5 with dependents minus a 3-bedroom is −$172/mo vs +$4/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 Malmstrom Air Force Base to Fairchild 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. Montana: Top listed rate 5.65%. Washington: No wage income tax; 7% capital gains over threshold. BAH is not taxed. Sales tax and titling a car follow the state you live in.
Related PCS
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 Malmstrom Air Force Base (MT175); Fairchild Air Force Base (WA310). Confirm current rates on the DTMO BAH lookup.
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent. HUD FY2026 FMR — Cascade County $1,284; Spokane County $1,531.
- Off-base ZIP rent (HUD Small Area FMR). FY2026 ZIP 2- and 3-bedroom 40th-percentile rents from the HUD Small Area FMR tables: 59403 (Great Falls) $1,280 / $1,780; 99224 (Spokane) $1,600 / $2,180.
- 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 Great Falls city, Montana ($257,000, $900/mo) and Spokane city, Washington ($363,500, $1,215/mo). Owner-reported values, not transaction prices.
- Climate normals (1991–2020). NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals — Great Falls Intl (NWS) (USW00024143); Spokane Intl (NWS) (USW00024157).
- Host-state wage tax. Statewide listed rates for Montana and Washington 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 Montana and Washington. 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 Montana and Washington. On-base housing is not in this figure.
- Vehicle title tax and new-resident clocks. Montana motor-vehicle agency (license 60 days, title 60 days; title tax 0.00%); Washington motor-vehicle agency (license 30 days, title 30 days; title tax 6.50%). 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 Montana and Washington. 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 Montana and Washington. Backdrop for off-base purchase prices; on-base housing and BAH are separate.