Naval Station Great Lakes vs Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
2026 BAH, cost of living, and housing compared side by side.
Naval Station Great Lakes has the higher housing allowance ($2,427 vs $1,650 for an E-5 with dependents, a $777/month difference), reflecting its higher local cost of living. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is the more affordable market, where a housing allowance stretches further toward buying a home with a VA loan.
| Naval Station Great Lakes | Wright-Patterson Air Force Base | |
|---|---|---|
| Branch | Navy | Air Force |
| Location | North Chicago, IL | Dayton, OH |
| Personnel | 18,000+ | 27,000+ |
| Cost of living | High | Low |
| E-5 BAH (w/dep) | $2,427 | $1,650 |
| E-7 BAH (w/dep) | $2,853 | $1,938 |
| O-3 BAH (w/dep) | $3,018 | $2,097 |
| Typical home price | $300k-$430k | $260k-$380k |
BAH source: DoD/DTMO 2026 rate tables (travel.dod.mil). Home prices are typical local ranges.
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