Compare military bases / MCB Hawaii → MCAS Beaufort
MCB Hawaii → MCAS Beaufort
Compare MCB Hawaii and MCAS Beaufort
Will my BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) go up or down if I move from MCB Hawaii to MCAS Beaufort?
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.
- MCB Hawaii
- $2,856
- MCAS Beaufort
- $2,103
- Lower BAH at MCAS Beaufort
BAH minus HUD 2-bedroom rent for the ZIP nearest each base.
- MCB Hawaii
- +$6/mo
- MCAS Beaufort
- +$463/mo
Housing just outside the gate: Kaneohe vs Beaufort
Rents shown on table are the 40th-percentile for 2 and 3 bedroom figures for the residential ZIP code nearest the base.
| MCB Hawaii Kaneohe 96744 | MCAS Beaufort Beaufort 29902 | |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (city) | $1,029,700 | $345,400 |
| Median gross rent (city) | $2,269/mo | $1,212 |
| HUD ZIP 2-BR rent | $2,850/mo | $1,640 |
| HUD ZIP 3-BR rent | $3,960/mo | $1,980 |
| HUD metro 2-BR rent (wider area) | $2,642/mo | $1,816 |
| E-5 without dependents minus 2-BR | +$6/mo | +$463/mo |
| E-5 with dependents minus 3-BR | −$297/mo | +$423/mo |
E-5 without dependents vs a HUD 2-bedroom is +$6/mo at MCB Hawaii vs +$463/mo at MCAS Beaufort. E-5 with dependents vs a 3-bedroom is −$297/mo vs +$423/mo.
Host-state comparison: Hawaii vs. South Carolina
| Hawaii | South Carolina | |
|---|---|---|
| Sales tax | 4.50% | 7.49% |
| Property tax | 0.29% | 0.49% |
| Personal property tax | No | Yes — 2.33% effective |
| Top state income tax | 11.0% | 6.0% |
| Median home value | $834,025 | $307,843 |
| Branch | Marine Corps | Marine Corps |
| HUD 2-BR FMR | $2,642 | $1,816 |
| Climate high/low | 85° / 72°F | 72° / 51°F |
| Annual precip | 16.4 in | 43.6 in |
| Nearby city | Kaneohe | Beaufort |
| Host state | Hawaii | South Carolina |
Click here for the full state comparison: Hawaii → South Carolina
PCS checklist for MCAS Beaufort
- Update DEERS. BAH at MCAS Beaufort uses MHA SC258 (ZIP 29904).
- Look up your exact rate on the DTMO BAH lookup.
- HUD 2-bedroom FMR near MCAS Beaufort is $1,816/mo. On-base housing is separate.
- New South Carolina residents typically have 90 days for a license and 45 days to title a car.
- Reporting: MCAS Beaufort.
Biggest differences
- E-5 with-dependents BAH is lower at MCAS Beaufort ($2,403 vs $3,663).
- Median owner-occupied home value in the off-base city is $345,400 in Beaufort vs $1,029,700 in Kaneohe (Census ACS 5-year, 2020–2024).
- HUD ZIP 2-bedroom rent just outside the gate is $1,640 in 29902 vs $2,850 in 96744.
- Host-state wage tax is Top listed rate 11.0% in Hawaii vs Top listed rate 6.0% in South Carolina (military pay usually follows legal residence, not the duty station).
- Combined sales tax averages 7.49% in South Carolina vs 4.5% in Hawaii.
Common questions
Can I PCS from MCB Hawaii to MCAS Beaufort?
This pair is listed because the installations share a tenant service (Marine Corps). Your actual orders depend on your MOS/AFSC/rating and the gaining unit.
How does BAH change from MCB Hawaii to MCAS Beaufort?
DTMO CY2026 with- and without-dependents rates for every pay grade are in the BAH table on this page. E-5 with dependents: $3,663 vs $2,403; without dependents: $2,856 vs $2,103.
What is local rent like near MCAS Beaufort?
HUD FY2026 Small Area FMR for ZIP 29902 (Beaufort) is $1,640/mo for a 2-bedroom and $1,980/mo for a 3-bedroom. The wider metro 2-BR FMR is $1,816/mo.
What do homes cost in Kaneohe vs Beaufort?
Census ACS 5-year (2020–2024) median value of owner-occupied homes is $1,029,700 in Kaneohe CDP, Hawaii vs $345,400 in Beaufort city, South Carolina. Median gross rent in those cities is $2,269 vs $1,212. These are city medians (owners’ reported values), not last month’s sale prices.
Will BAH cover off-base rent if I PCS from MCB Hawaii to MCAS Beaufort?
E-5 without dependents minus a HUD 2-bedroom is +$6/mo at MCB Hawaii vs +$463/mo at MCAS Beaufort. E-5 with dependents minus a 3-bedroom is −$297/mo vs +$423/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 MCB Hawaii to MCAS Beaufort?
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. Hawaii: Top listed rate 11.0%. South Carolina: Top listed rate 6.0%. 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 MCB Hawaii (HI408); MCAS Beaufort (SC258). Confirm current rates on the DTMO BAH lookup.
- 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent. HUD FY2026 FMR — Honolulu County $2,642; Beaufort County $1,816.
- Off-base ZIP rent (HUD Small Area FMR). FY2026 ZIP 2- and 3-bedroom 40th-percentile rents from the HUD Small Area FMR tables: 96744 (Kaneohe) $2,850 / $3,960; 29902 (Beaufort) $1,640 / $1,980.
- 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 Kaneohe CDP, Hawaii ($1,029,700, $2,269/mo) and Beaufort city, South Carolina ($345,400, $1,212/mo). Owner-reported values, not transaction prices.
- Climate normals (1991–2020). NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals — Honolulu Intl (NWS) (USW00022521); Charleston Intl (NWS) (USW00013881).
- Host-state wage tax. Statewide listed rates for Hawaii and South Carolina 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 Hawaii and South Carolina. 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 Hawaii and South Carolina. On-base housing is not in this figure.
- Vehicle title tax and new-resident clocks. Hawaii motor-vehicle agency (license 30 days, title 30 days; title tax 4.00%); South Carolina motor-vehicle agency (license 90 days, title 45 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 Hawaii and South Carolina. 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 Hawaii and South Carolina. Backdrop for off-base purchase prices; on-base housing and BAH are separate.