Eglin Air Force Base vs Patrick Space Force Base
2026 BAH, cost of living, and housing compared side by side.
Patrick Space Force Base has the higher housing allowance ($2,502 vs $2,433 for an E-5 with dependents, a $69/month difference), reflecting its higher local cost of living. Eglin Air Force Base is the more affordable market, where a housing allowance stretches further toward buying a home with a VA loan.
| Eglin Air Force Base | Patrick Space Force Base | |
|---|---|---|
| Branch | Air Force | Space Force |
| Location | Valparaiso, FL | Cocoa Beach, FL |
| Personnel | 20,000+ | 9,000+ |
| Cost of living | High | High |
| E-5 BAH (w/dep) | $2,433 | $2,502 |
| E-7 BAH (w/dep) | $2,841 | $2,907 |
| O-3 BAH (w/dep) | $3,399 | $2,922 |
| Typical home price | $320k-$460k | $400k-$560k |
BAH source: DoD/DTMO 2026 rate tables (travel.dod.mil). Home prices are typical local ranges.
Compare other bases
Use the interactive tool to compare any two of our 130+ bases.
Open the compare tool