Fort Bliss: rent or buy? (2026)
E-5 with dependents: $1,809/mo BAH.
- Typical 3BR rent: $1,633 (HUD FY2026). You keep about $176/mo.
- Typical home: $233,084 in El Paso County TX (Zillow, Sept 2026).
- VA loan, $0 down: about $2,143/mo with tax and insurance (est.).
- O-3 with dependents: $2,202/mo BAH.
Your plan for Fort Bliss
2026 BAH at Fort Bliss
Military Housing Area TX279: El Paso, TX. Duty ZIP 79916. Monthly rates from DTMO, effective Jan 1, 2026. Confirm your ZIP on the DTMO lookup.
| Grade | With dependents | Without |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,665 | $1,302 |
| E-2 | $1,665 | $1,302 |
| E-3 | $1,665 | $1,302 |
| E-4 | $1,665 | $1,302 |
| E-5 | $1,809 | $1,437 |
| E-6 | $2,148 | $1,611 |
| E-7 | $2,172 | $1,668 |
| E-8 | $2,187 | $1,881 |
| E-9 | $2,241 | $1,977 |
| W-1 | $2,169 | $1,626 |
| W-2 | $2,178 | $1,878 |
| W-3 | $2,205 | $1,992 |
| W-4 | $2,256 | $2,148 |
| W-5 | $2,334 | $2,169 |
| O-1E | $2,175 | $1,806 |
| O-2E | $2,196 | $1,956 |
| O-3E | $2,268 | $2,142 |
| O-1 | $1,857 | $1,518 |
| O-2 | $2,145 | $1,764 |
| O-3 | $2,202 | $2,022 |
| O-4 | $2,352 | $2,157 |
| O-5 | $2,466 | $2,172 |
| O-6 | $2,484 | $2,178 |
| O-7+ | $2,496 | $2,214 |
Rent near Fort Bliss
| Size | HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $821 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,013 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,191 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,633 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,998 |
El Paso, TX HUD Metro FMR Area (El Paso County TX). 40th-percentile rent including utilities. Zillow ZORI (all sizes, Sept 2026): $1,521.
Buying with a VA loan
- Typical home value
- $233,084 (Zillow ZHVI, El Paso County TX, Sept 2026)
- Loan, $0 down
- $238,095 incl. 2.15% funding fee (first use)
- Principal + interest
- $1,649/mo at 7.4% (Freddie Mac avg, 2026-10-15)
- Property tax (est.)
- $394/mo (2.03% of value, Census ACS)
- Insurance (placeholder)
- $100/mo
- Total (est.)
- $2,143/mo
- 2026 loan limit
- $832,750 (only matters with partial entitlement)
All numbers are estimates for planning. BAH: DTMO 2026. Rent: HUD FY2026 FMR. Home value: Zillow ZHVI, Sept 2026. Rate: Freddie Mac 7.4% (2026-10-15). Tax: Census ACS county median. Insurance: our placeholder (0.5% of value, min $1,200/yr), not a quote.
FAQ
What is the 2026 BAH at Fort Bliss?
For an E-5 with dependents it's $1,809 a month; without dependents $1,437. O-3 with dependents: $2,202. Military Housing Area TX279 (El Paso, TX). Source: DTMO 2026 rates.
How much is rent near Fort Bliss?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for El Paso County TX: $1,191 for 2 bedrooms, $1,633 for 3 bedrooms, including utilities. Zillow's typical observed rent (all sizes) was $1,521 in Sept 2026.
Should I buy a house at Fort Bliss?
It depends on how long you'll stay and whether you'd keep it as a rental. Run the planner above with your rank and plans.
What's the VA loan limit near Fort Bliss?
With full entitlement there's no VA loan limit. With partial entitlement, VA uses the 2026 FHFA one-unit limit for El Paso County TX: $832,750.