Fort Riley: rent or buy? (2026)
E-5 with dependents: $1,314/mo BAH.
- Typical 3BR rent: $1,458 (HUD FY2026). About $144/mo over BAH.
- Typical home: $208,531 in Geary County KS (Zillow, Sept 2026).
- VA loan, $0 down: about $1,827/mo with tax and insurance (est.).
- O-3 with dependents: $1,953/mo BAH.
Your plan for Fort Riley
2026 BAH at Fort Riley
Military Housing Area KS100: Fort Riley, KS. Duty ZIP 66442. Monthly rates from DTMO, effective Jan 1, 2026. Confirm your ZIP on the DTMO lookup.
| Grade | With dependents | Without |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,272 | $1,050 |
| E-2 | $1,272 | $1,050 |
| E-3 | $1,272 | $1,050 |
| E-4 | $1,272 | $1,050 |
| E-5 | $1,314 | $1,158 |
| E-6 | $1,782 | $1,338 |
| E-7 | $1,845 | $1,383 |
| E-8 | $1,911 | $1,434 |
| E-9 | $2,013 | $1,548 |
| W-1 | $1,803 | $1,353 |
| W-2 | $1,872 | $1,410 |
| W-3 | $1,956 | $1,566 |
| W-4 | $2,037 | $1,794 |
| W-5 | $2,139 | $1,860 |
| O-1E | $1,854 | $1,392 |
| O-2E | $1,941 | $1,518 |
| O-3E | $2,052 | $1,776 |
| O-1 | $1,377 | $1,227 |
| O-2 | $1,779 | $1,386 |
| O-3 | $1,953 | $1,611 |
| O-4 | $2,169 | $1,842 |
| O-5 | $2,325 | $1,875 |
| O-6 | $2,340 | $1,935 |
| O-7+ | $2,352 | $1,965 |
Rent near Fort Riley
| Size | HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $843 |
| 1 bedroom | $848 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,048 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,458 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,758 |
Geary County, KS HUD Metro FMR Area (Geary County KS). 40th-percentile rent including utilities. Zillow ZORI (all sizes, Sept 2026): $1,157.
Buying with a VA loan
- Typical home value
- $208,531 (Zillow ZHVI, Geary County KS, Sept 2026)
- Loan, $0 down
- $213,014 incl. 2.15% funding fee (first use)
- Principal + interest
- $1,475/mo at 7.4% (Freddie Mac avg, 2026-10-15)
- Property tax (est.)
- $252/mo (1.45% of value, Census ACS)
- Insurance (placeholder)
- $100/mo
- Total (est.)
- $1,827/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 Riley?
For an E-5 with dependents it's $1,314 a month; without dependents $1,158. O-3 with dependents: $1,953. Military Housing Area KS100 (Fort Riley, KS). Source: DTMO 2026 rates.
How much is rent near Fort Riley?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Geary County KS: $1,048 for 2 bedrooms, $1,458 for 3 bedrooms, including utilities. Zillow's typical observed rent (all sizes) was $1,157 in Sept 2026.
Should I buy a house at Fort Riley?
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 Riley?
With full entitlement there's no VA loan limit. With partial entitlement, VA uses the 2026 FHFA one-unit limit for Geary County KS: $832,750.