Fort Meade vs Naval Support Activity Bethesda
2026 BAH, cost of living, and housing compared side by side.
Naval Support Activity Bethesda has the higher housing allowance ($3,132 vs $2,901 for an E-5 with dependents, a $231/month difference), reflecting its higher local cost of living. Fort Meade is the more affordable market, where a housing allowance stretches further toward buying a home with a VA loan.
| Fort Meade | Naval Support Activity Bethesda | |
|---|---|---|
| Branch | Army | Navy |
| Location | Odenton, MD | Bethesda, MD |
| Personnel | 50,000+ | 8,000+ |
| Cost of living | High | High |
| E-5 BAH (w/dep) | $2,901 | $3,132 |
| E-7 BAH (w/dep) | $3,327 | $3,855 |
| O-3 BAH (w/dep) | $3,411 | $4,020 |
| Typical home price | $400k-$560k | $500k-$700k |
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