Military Bases in Mississippi: 3 Guides, 2026 BAH vs Rent

3 guides in Mississippi: 2 Air Force and 1 Navy installations. At E-5 with dependents, 2026 BAH runs from $1,290 a month at Meridian Naval Air Station to $1,602 at Keesler Air Force Base, across 3 housing areas, set against HUD's fair market rent for a 3-bedroom home near each.

Rates last verified August 2026 against the published source tables.

Installations in Mississippi

3 guides · MS taxes military pay for MS domiciliaries · TRICARE East (Humana) · E-5 with dependents: $1,290 to $1,602 BAH across 3 housing areas

Mississippi installations at E-5 with dependents
InstallationCityBranchAllowance at E-5 with dependentsAgainst local rent
Columbus Air Force BaseColumbusAir Force$1,398 BAHCovers a 3-bedroom with $120 to spare
Keesler Air Force BaseBiloxiAir Force$1,602 BAHCovers a 3-bedroom with $77 to spare
Meridian Naval Air StationMeridianNavy$1,290 BAHFalls only $38 short of a 3-bedroom

Where BAH goes furthest in Mississippi

At E-5 with dependents, 2026 BAH goes furthest at Columbus Air Force Base, where it covers a 3-bedroom with $120 to spare, and least far at Meridian Naval Air Station, where it falls only $38 short of a 3-bedroom. It covers HUD's 3-bedroom rent at 2 of the 3 installations.

Mississippi installations by what BAH leaves after rent, at E-5 with dependents
Installation2026 BAHHUD 3-bedroom rentAfter rent
Columbus Air Force Base$1,398$1,278$120 left
Keesler Air Force Base$1,602$1,525$77 left
Meridian Naval Air Station$1,290$1,328$38 short

HUD's FY2027 fair market rent is the 40th-percentile gross rent for the area, utilities included, which is what BAH is meant to cover; it is a benchmark, not a listing. Source: HUD.

State tax and TRICARE in Mississippi

Mississippi. A Mississippi resident is taxed on all income including active-duty pay, and must file a Mississippi return. Only combat-zone pay is exempt.

SCRA. Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act your military pay is taxed by the state you are domiciled in, not by the one your duty station sits in. Being assigned to an installation in Mississippi does not by itself change which state may tax you, and it does not create a filing obligation where you are stationed.

TRICARE East. Care at all 3 installations in Mississippi falls under the TRICARE East region, administered by Humana Military — enrollment and claims run through 800-444-5445.

Sources and updates

Maintained by PCS Calculator, an independent site run by an active-duty service member. BAH checked against DTMO's 2026 table on 19 August 2026; rents from HUD's FY2027 fair market rents, fetched 28 September 2026; state tax treatment of military pay checked 19 August 2026; TRICARE regions checked 27 August 2026. This page was last updated 4 November 2026. How every figure on this site is checked

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