Fort Leonard Wood vs Scott Air Force Base
2026 BAH, cost of living, and housing compared side by side.
Scott Air Force Base has the higher housing allowance ($1,542 vs $1,479 for an E-5 with dependents, a $63/month difference), reflecting its higher local cost of living. Fort Leonard Wood is the more affordable market, where a housing allowance stretches further toward buying a home with a VA loan.
| Fort Leonard Wood | Scott Air Force Base | |
|---|---|---|
| Branch | Army | Air Force |
| Location | Waynesville, MO | O'Fallon, IL |
| Personnel | 15,000+ | 13,000+ |
| Cost of living | Low | Low |
| E-5 BAH (w/dep) | $1,479 | $1,542 |
| E-7 BAH (w/dep) | $1,833 | $2,076 |
| O-3 BAH (w/dep) | $2,028 | $2,208 |
| Typical home price | $170k-$260k | $240k-$350k |
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