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Fort Leonard Wood: rent or buy? (2026)
E-5 with dependents: $1,479/mo BAH.
- Typical 3BR rent: $1,477 (HUD FY2026). You keep about $2/mo.
- Typical home: $231,876 in Pulaski County MO (Zillow, Sept 2026).
- VA loan, $0 down: about $1,858/mo with tax and insurance (est.).
- O-3 with dependents: $2,028/mo BAH.
Your plan for Fort Leonard Wood
2026 BAH at Fort Leonard Wood
Military Housing Area MO163: Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Duty ZIP 65473. Monthly rates from DTMO, effective Jan 1, 2026. Confirm your ZIP on the DTMO lookup.
| Grade | With dependents | Without |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,386 | $1,287 |
| E-2 | $1,386 | $1,287 |
| E-3 | $1,386 | $1,287 |
| E-4 | $1,386 | $1,287 |
| E-5 | $1,479 | $1,290 |
| E-6 | $1,722 | $1,296 |
| E-7 | $1,833 | $1,386 |
| E-8 | $1,956 | $1,533 |
| E-9 | $2,064 | $1,596 |
| W-1 | $1,740 | $1,368 |
| W-2 | $1,884 | $1,530 |
| W-3 | $2,034 | $1,608 |
| W-4 | $2,073 | $1,743 |
| W-5 | $2,130 | $1,860 |
| O-1E | $1,854 | $1,476 |
| O-2E | $2,010 | $1,581 |
| O-3E | $2,085 | $1,713 |
| O-1 | $1,515 | $1,293 |
| O-2 | $1,719 | $1,452 |
| O-3 | $2,028 | $1,629 |
| O-4 | $2,142 | $1,833 |
| O-5 | $2,223 | $1,899 |
| O-6 | $2,238 | $2,013 |
| O-7+ | $2,250 | $2,043 |
Rent near Fort Leonard Wood
| Size | HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $789 |
| 1 bedroom | $809 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,062 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,477 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,699 |
Pulaski County, MO (Pulaski County MO). 40th-percentile rent including utilities. Zillow ZORI (all sizes, Sept 2026): $1,217.
Buying with a VA loan
- Typical home value
- $231,876 (Zillow ZHVI, Pulaski County MO, Sept 2026)
- Loan, $0 down
- $236,861 incl. 2.15% funding fee (first use)
- Principal + interest
- $1,640/mo at 7.4% (Freddie Mac avg, 2026-10-15)
- Property tax (est.)
- $118/mo (0.61% of value, Census ACS)
- Insurance (placeholder)
- $100/mo
- Total (est.)
- $1,858/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 Leonard Wood?
For an E-5 with dependents it's $1,479 a month; without dependents $1,290. O-3 with dependents: $2,028. Military Housing Area MO163 (Fort Leonard Wood, MO). Source: DTMO 2026 rates.
How much is rent near Fort Leonard Wood?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Pulaski County MO: $1,062 for 2 bedrooms, $1,477 for 3 bedrooms, including utilities. Zillow's typical observed rent (all sizes) was $1,217 in Sept 2026.
Should I buy a house at Fort Leonard Wood?
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 Leonard Wood?
With full entitlement there's no VA loan limit. With partial entitlement, VA uses the 2026 FHFA one-unit limit for Pulaski County MO: $832,750.