Fort Carson: rent or buy? (2026)
E-5 with dependents: $2,358/mo BAH.
- Typical 3BR rent: $2,413 (HUD FY2026). About $55/mo over BAH.
- Typical home: $445,559 in El Paso County CO (Zillow, Sept 2026).
- VA loan, $0 down: about $3,489/mo with tax and insurance (est.).
- O-3 with dependents: $2,595/mo BAH.
Your plan for Fort Carson
2026 BAH at Fort Carson
Military Housing Area CO046: Colorado Springs, CO. Duty ZIP 80913. Monthly rates from DTMO, effective Jan 1, 2026. Confirm your ZIP on the DTMO lookup.
| Grade | With dependents | Without |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $2,160 | $1,689 |
| E-2 | $2,160 | $1,689 |
| E-3 | $2,160 | $1,689 |
| E-4 | $2,160 | $1,689 |
| E-5 | $2,358 | $1,860 |
| E-6 | $2,433 | $1,980 |
| E-7 | $2,487 | $2,166 |
| E-8 | $2,553 | $2,379 |
| E-9 | $2,646 | $2,388 |
| W-1 | $2,448 | $2,103 |
| W-2 | $2,514 | $2,376 |
| W-3 | $2,598 | $2,394 |
| W-4 | $2,664 | $2,436 |
| W-5 | $2,754 | $2,502 |
| O-1E | $2,496 | $2,355 |
| O-2E | $2,583 | $2,385 |
| O-3E | $2,679 | $2,418 |
| O-1 | $2,376 | $1,959 |
| O-2 | $2,430 | $2,295 |
| O-3 | $2,595 | $2,397 |
| O-4 | $2,778 | $2,484 |
| O-5 | $2,913 | $2,517 |
| O-6 | $2,934 | $2,574 |
| O-7+ | $2,955 | $2,616 |
Rent near Fort Carson
| Size | HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,196 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,464 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,735 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,413 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,744 |
Colorado Springs, CO HUD Metro FMR Area (El Paso County CO). 40th-percentile rent including utilities. Zillow ZORI (all sizes, Sept 2026): $1,761.
Buying with a VA loan
- Typical home value
- $445,559 (Zillow ZHVI, El Paso County CO, Sept 2026)
- Loan, $0 down
- $455,139 incl. 2.15% funding fee (first use)
- Principal + interest
- $3,151/mo at 7.4% (Freddie Mac avg, 2026-10-15)
- Property tax (est.)
- $152/mo (0.41% of value, Census ACS)
- Insurance (placeholder)
- $186/mo
- Total (est.)
- $3,489/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 Carson?
For an E-5 with dependents it's $2,358 a month; without dependents $1,860. O-3 with dependents: $2,595. Military Housing Area CO046 (Colorado Springs, CO). Source: DTMO 2026 rates.
How much is rent near Fort Carson?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for El Paso County CO: $1,735 for 2 bedrooms, $2,413 for 3 bedrooms, including utilities. Zillow's typical observed rent (all sizes) was $1,761 in Sept 2026.
Should I buy a house at Fort Carson?
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 Carson?
With full entitlement there's no VA loan limit. With partial entitlement, VA uses the 2026 FHFA one-unit limit for El Paso County CO: $832,750.