The Pentagon: rent or buy? (2026)
E-5 with dependents: $3,132/mo BAH.
- Typical 3BR rent: $2,835 (HUD FY2026). You keep about $297/mo.
- Typical home: $802,232 in Arlington County VA (Zillow, Sept 2026).
- VA loan, $0 down: about $6,617/mo with tax and insurance (est.).
- O-3 with dependents: $4,020/mo BAH.
Your plan for Pentagon
2026 BAH at The Pentagon
Military Housing Area DC053: Washington, DC Metro Area. Duty ZIP 22202. Monthly rates from DTMO, effective Jan 1, 2026. Confirm your ZIP on the DTMO lookup.
| Grade | With dependents | Without |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $3,096 | $2,409 |
| E-2 | $3,096 | $2,409 |
| E-3 | $3,096 | $2,409 |
| E-4 | $3,096 | $2,409 |
| E-5 | $3,132 | $2,832 |
| E-6 | $3,759 | $3,057 |
| E-7 | $3,855 | $3,099 |
| E-8 | $3,957 | $3,261 |
| E-9 | $4,128 | $3,447 |
| W-1 | $3,780 | $3,096 |
| W-2 | $3,894 | $3,258 |
| W-3 | $4,023 | $3,471 |
| W-4 | $4,167 | $3,777 |
| W-5 | $4,350 | $3,876 |
| O-1E | $3,870 | $3,129 |
| O-2E | $4,002 | $3,405 |
| O-3E | $4,197 | $3,753 |
| O-1 | $3,213 | $3,054 |
| O-2 | $3,753 | $3,126 |
| O-3 | $4,020 | $3,531 |
| O-4 | $4,410 | $3,855 |
| O-5 | $4,692 | $3,909 |
| O-6 | $4,731 | $3,999 |
| O-7+ | $4,770 | $4,071 |
Rent near Pentagon
| Size | HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,953 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,015 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,246 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,835 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,332 |
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area (Arlington County VA). 40th-percentile rent including utilities. Zillow ZORI (all sizes, Sept 2026): $2,680.
Buying with a VA loan
- Typical home value
- $802,232 (Zillow ZHVI, Arlington County VA, Sept 2026)
- Loan, $0 down
- $819,480 incl. 2.15% funding fee (first use)
- Principal + interest
- $5,674/mo at 7.4% (Freddie Mac avg, 2026-10-15)
- Property tax (est.)
- $608/mo (0.91% of value, Census ACS)
- Insurance (placeholder)
- $334/mo
- Total (est.)
- $6,617/mo
- 2026 loan limit
- $1,249,125 (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 The Pentagon?
For an E-5 with dependents it's $3,132 a month; without dependents $2,832. O-3 with dependents: $4,020. Military Housing Area DC053 (Washington, DC Metro Area). Source: DTMO 2026 rates.
How much is rent near The Pentagon?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Arlington County VA: $2,246 for 2 bedrooms, $2,835 for 3 bedrooms, including utilities. Zillow's typical observed rent (all sizes) was $2,680 in Sept 2026.
Should I buy a house at The Pentagon?
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 The Pentagon?
With full entitlement there's no VA loan limit. With partial entitlement, VA uses the 2026 FHFA one-unit limit for Arlington County VA: $1,249,125.