The Department of Defense has announced the 2025 Continental United States (CONUS) Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA) rates.
About 61,000 service members will receive a total of about $51 million in CONUS COLA payments in 2025, significantly more than in 2024, when about 17,000 troops received about $26 million and 2023, when about 5,000 troops received about $8 million.
CONUS COLA is different from Outside Continental United States (OCONUS) COLA, because CONUS COLA is a taxable pay rather than a non-taxable allowance. Also unlike OCONUS COLA, it changes only once each year, rather than monthly, and is based on cost of living rather than fluctuations in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies.
CONUS COLA is paid to military members stationed in high-cost areas in the U.S. The rate varies by geographic location, rank, years of service and dependency status.
Related: Frequently Asked Questions About CONUS COLA
CONUS COLA also differs from the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), because CONUS COLA factors in costs of living that are unrelated to housing costs. CONUS COLA can also be paid to service members living in base housing, in barracks or onboard ships.
2025 CONUS COLA Changes
In 2025, base monthly payments range from $35 to $60 for members with dependents and $27 to $46 for those without dependents.
The following areas, with their COLA percentage multipliers, are eligible for CONUS COLA in 2025.
CALIFORNIA
- Bridgeport, 4%
- Camp Pendleton, 1%
- El Centro, 1%
- Humboldt County, 5%
- Los Angeles, 2%
- Marin/Sonoma, 3%
- Oakland, 3%
- Riverside, 1%
- Sacramento, 1%
- San Bernardino, 1%
- San Francisco, 5%
- San Luis Obispo, 4%
- Alpine County, 1%
- Amador County, 1%
- Calaveras County, 1%
- Colusa County, 1%
- Del Norte County, 1%
- Glenn County, 1%
- Inyo County, 1%
- Kern County, 1%
- Lake County, 1%
- Lassen County, 1%
- Mariposa County, 1%
- Mendocino County, 1%
- Merced County, 1%
- Modoc County, 1%
- Plumas County, 1%
- San Bernardino County, 1%
- Santa Clara County, 4%
- Sierra County, 1%
- Siskiyou County, 1%
- Tehama County, 1%
- Trinity County, 1%
- Tuolumne County, 1%
MASSACHUSETTS
- Boston, 2%
- Martha’s Vineyard, 1%
- Nantucket, 1%
NEW YORK
- Long Island, 1%
- New York City, 8%
- Staten Island, 3%
- Livingston County, 2%
- Ontario County, 2%
- Schoharie County, 2%
- Tompkins County, 2%
- Wayne County, 2%
- Westchester County, 1%
Check out DoD's CONUS COLA calculator for details on your location.
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