Leaving Fort Stewart for Fort Carson? Your BAH Stays Flat. Your Debts Have to Move.
Fort Stewart and Fort Carson pay almost the same BAH in 2026. This page shows BAH by rank, what changes in cost, how paying off debt closes the gap, and how to clear Fort Stewart or Hunter Army Airfield on time.
A PCS from Fort Stewart to Fort Carson is the rare Army move where your housing allowance barely changes, so debt, not BAH, decides what you can buy.
A PCS from Fort Stewart to Fort Carson moves your family from coastal Georgia to Colorado Springs, about 1,700 miles west and almost 6,000 feet higher. If you live in Hinesville, Richmond Hill, Pooler, Savannah, or Ludowici, or work out of Hunter Army Airfield, this is your Fort Stewart to Fort Carson plan: BAH, housing costs, debt payoff, clearing, and the drive. We are a no-overlay VA lender based in Colorado Springs. We follow VA’s rules with no extra lender rules on top, and we manually underwrite files other lenders turn down. 25+ years, 3,100+ closed loans, Scotsman Guide Top Originator 2026. Lending in 49 states. New York excluded.
Last updated: October 6, 2026
Guidance reference: VA Pamphlet 26-7, Ch. 3 (VA updated July 9, 2026); Ch. 4 (VA updated August 26, 2026)
PCS From Fort Stewart to Fort Carson: The Short Answer
Your BAH lands within a few dollars of what you get now at most grades. Colorado Springs homes still cost more than most homes around Hinesville. So the extra room has to come from paying off monthly debt before or at closing.
As of Q3 2026 (September 2026): An E-5 with dependents gets $2,310 a month in BAH at Fort Stewart (MHA GA080) and $2,358 a month at Fort Carson (MHA CO046). That is a change of just +$48 a month (DoD 2026 BAH Rates, with dependents). VA uses 41% as a check point, not a limit, for how much of your income goes to debt payments. Above 41%, we take a closer look at your file. That step is not needed if the money left over each month after your bills is at least 20% above VA’s chart. If it is not, a supervisor can still approve the loan with a signed note that lists the strengths in your file (VA Pamphlet 26-7, Ch. 4). A seller can pay up to 4% of the home’s reasonable value in seller concessions (extras the seller pays for you beyond normal closing costs). That money can pay off your debts (VA Pamphlet 26-7, Chapter 8). PCS travel rules allow one travel day per 350 miles. That puts a roughly 1,700-mile drive at five days (DTMO JTR travel-time example).
Fort Stewart BAH vs Fort Carson BAH 2026 by Rank
Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield share one rate area, GA080. Fort Carson, Peterson, and Schriever share CO046. The table shows 2026 with-dependents rates, in effect since January 1. Junior enlisted (E-1 to E-3) with a family are paid at the E-4 line.
| Grade | Fort Stewart (GA080) | Fort Carson (CO046) | Monthly Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-4 | $2,175 | $2,160 | −$15 |
| E-5 | $2,310 | $2,358 | +$48 |
| E-6 | $2,439 | $2,433 | −$6 |
| E-7 | $2,493 | $2,487 | −$6 |
| E-8 | $2,556 | $2,553 | −$3 |
| E-9 | $2,682 | $2,646 | −$36 |
| W-2 | $2,520 | $2,514 | −$6 |
| O-1 | $2,334 | $2,376 | +$42 |
| O-2 | $2,436 | $2,430 | −$6 |
| O-3 | $2,598 | $2,595 | −$3 |
| O-4 | $2,904 | $2,778 | −$126 |
| O-5 | $3,129 | $2,913 | −$216 |
Single soldiers: without dependents, BAH goes down. An E-4 drops from $1,791 to $1,689 (−$102). An E-5 drops from $1,947 to $1,860 (−$87).
From E-4 through O-3, the change is under $50 a month either way. Field-grade officers take a real cut: an O-4 loses $126 a month and an O-5 loses $216. GA080 covers an area that runs up into Savannah, where rents are higher than in Hinesville. So Fort Stewart families already get a Savannah-level allowance, and it does not grow in Colorado. Get your exact rate from the DoD BAH calculator using ZIP 80913 for Fort Carson.
Hinesville and Savannah vs Colorado Springs: What Housing Costs
Homes in Hinesville and Ludowici, in Liberty and Long counties, generally cost less than homes in Colorado Springs. Richmond Hill in Bryan County and Pooler and Savannah in Chatham County sit closer. In Colorado Springs, the median sale price sat in the mid-$400,000s in late summer 2026. The biggest surprise for coastal families is how the insurance risk flips.
| Cost | Fort Stewart area (Liberty, Bryan, Long, Chatham) | Colorado Springs (Fort Carson) |
|---|---|---|
| Home prices | Lower in Hinesville and Ludowici. Higher closer to Savannah. | Median in the mid-$400,000s, after a 2020 to 2023 climb that mostly held. |
| Rent vs BAH | E-5 BAH is $2,310, set to cover a wide area that includes Savannah. | 3-bedroom about $2,100 to $2,400. E-5 BAH is $2,358. |
| Property tax | Georgia taxes homes on 40% of value, with a $2,000 homestead exemption you file with the county. | Low by national standards. |
| State income tax | Georgia flat rate of 4.99% starting January 1, 2026. | Colorado flat income tax, with military pay exemptions in some cases. |
| Homeowner’s insurance | Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. Flood is a separate policy. | High and rising because of hail. The Front Range is one of the most active hail corridors in the country. |
| Utilities | Long, humid summers and heavy air conditioning. | Near the national average. Heat is the winter cost. |
Hurricane and flood in Georgia, hail in Colorado
Near Savannah, you check flood zones and hurricane deductibles. Most homeowners policies do not cover flood, and a new flood policy usually takes 30 days to start (FEMA FloodSmart). The Atlantic season runs June 1 to November 30 (NOAA National Hurricane Center). In Colorado Springs, hail drives premiums. Ask for the roof’s age and get a real quote before you sign a contract.
Taxes and your home state. SCRA lets you keep your home state of legal residence. If Georgia is your legal residence, orders to Colorado do not move it for state tax purposes. The 4.99% rate comes from HB 463. The 40% assessment and $2,000 exemption are explained by the Georgia Department of Revenue site.
Paying Off Debt to Cover the Colorado Springs Payment
On most moves west, a bigger BAH covers part of a bigger payment. From Fort Stewart, debt payoff carries the whole gap. Sample family: an E-6 in an aviation unit at Hunter Army Airfield, a spouse working in Pooler, two kids. They own in Pooler and want Security-Widefield, near Gate 20. Carson BAH: $2,433, six dollars less than now. Sample home: $400,000, $0 down VA. Figures are rounded examples.
Before: Carrying Georgia Debts to Colorado
- Base pay $4,700 + Carson BAH $2,433 + spouse $1,800 = $8,933 a month
- Truck $720 + SUV $540 + cards $310 + personal loan $240 = $1,810 a month
- House payment (principal, interest, taxes, insurance): $2,850
- $2,850 + $1,810 = $4,660 ÷ $8,933
- DTI = 52.2%. Well above 41%, and residual income is tight.
After: Three Debts Paid at Closing
- Same income: $8,933 a month
- SUV ($14,800), cards ($8,600), and personal loan ($5,200) paid off: $28,600
- Debts left: truck $720 a month
- $2,850 + $720 = $3,570 ÷ $8,933
- DTI = 40.0%. Under the 41% benchmark, with $1,090 a month freed up.
Down payment or payoff? On a VA loan, every car payment and card payment counts in two places. It raises how much of your income goes to debt payments (your debt-to-income ratio). It also cuts the money left over each month after the house and bills (VA calls this residual income). Colorado sits in VA’s West region. There, VA’s guide for a family of four borrowing $80,000 or more is $1,117 a month. For active duty, it is 5% lower, about $1,061. When more than 41% of your income goes to debts, we take a closer look at your file. That closer look is not needed if your money left over is at least 20% above the guide. For active duty, that is about $1,273. Without that cushion, the loan can still be approved when a supervisor signs a note listing the strengths in your file. Putting $28,600 down trims the payment only about $175 a month at a sample 6.25% rate. Aimed at three debts, it removes $1,090 a month from both tests.
Three places the $28,600 can come from.
- The Colorado seller. Concessions top out at 4% of reasonable value, so up to $16,000 here, and the title company can send it straight to your creditors at closing.
- Equity from the Pooler house. In this example, the other $12,600 comes from the sale.
- Savings. Point savings at debts with the highest monthly payment per dollar owed.
Details live on our VA residual income and VA seller concessions pages.
❌ Myth: “My BAH at Fort Stewart already covers a house in Richmond Hill, so the same BAH will cover a house in Colorado Springs.”
✅ Fact: The BAH is about the same, but the home and the insurance bill usually are not. VA looks at your whole debt load and residual income. Clearing monthly debts makes the same allowance stretch.
Which Georgia debts should go before you clear post? Send us the list and we test each payoff against DTI and residual income.
Run My NumbersWhat to Do With Your House at Fort Stewart: Sell, Rent, or Keep
Owners in Hinesville, Richmond Hill, Pooler, or Ludowici face the same fork: sell, lease, or hold. The pick shapes the Carson file.
Sell
A sale restores full entitlement and hands you cash to wipe out debts. On a flat-BAH move, that cash does more work than usual. Coastal timing note: your buyer needs homeowner’s insurance to close. When a storm threatens the coast, insurers can pause new policies. Build spare days into a summer or fall closing.
Rent It Out
Homes near Fort Stewart or Hunter usually draw military renters. To count the rent toward your Carson loan, we need a signed lease. The Georgia homestead exemption is tied to the home being your residence, so check with the Liberty, Bryan, Long, or Chatham County tax office once you move out.
Keep the VA Loan
Hold the Georgia VA loan and part of your entitlement stays tied to it. Second-tier entitlement still works for a Carson purchase. VA figures it off the county limit, $832,750 for 2026 in most counties (FHFA). Past that coverage, expect a down payment.
Renting now? Hinesville renters can break the lease under the SCRA once orders arrive, with written notice plus a copy of the orders to the landlord (50 U.S.C. 3955). Want approval before orders drop? Read Fort Stewart pre-approval before PCS orders.
Clearing Fort Stewart: Out-Processing, PCS Briefing, and the Transportation Office
Most of the Fort Stewart PCS checklist runs through one building: the Sergeant Audie Murphy Soldier Service Center, Building 253 on Pony Soldier. It holds out-processing, finance (Room 1008), and the transportation office (Fort Stewart Soldier Service Center).
- PCS briefing. Out-processing is Room 1050. The PCS brief runs Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 9:15 a.m. Final outs are weekdays from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.
- Transportation office. Household goods is Building 253, Room 2003A, open weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Bring three copies of your orders (Fort Stewart household goods).
- ACS PCS briefs. ACS lists required briefs, including Smooth Move and Financial Planning for PCS (Fort Stewart outbound PCS).
Clearing from Hunter Army Airfield
Hunter soldiers clear in Savannah, not Hinesville. The Military Personnel Division is Building 1286 at 171 Haley Avenue, open weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It issues the Installation Clearing Papers, DA 137-2, and wants you in uniform while clearing and at final out (Hunter Army Airfield MPD). Household goods is in the same building, Suite 229.
The levy brief you see in searches is aimed at overseas moves. Carson is stateside, so ask your S1 which briefs your orders require.
The Drive: Fort Stewart to Colorado Springs
The drive from Hinesville to Colorado Springs is about 1,700 miles. At one travel day per 350 miles, that authorizes five travel days.
- Southern route. I-16 to Macon, I-75 to Atlanta, I-20 to Birmingham, I-22 to Memphis, and I-40 west across Arkansas and Oklahoma to Amarillo. US-87 then cuts up the Texas and New Mexico high plains to Raton, where I-25 crosses Raton Pass.
- Northern route. I-75 to Atlanta, I-24 through Nashville, I-57 and I-64 to St. Louis, then I-70 across Missouri and Kansas to Limon and US-24 for the last hour. Plan on strong crosswinds on the Kansas plains.
You go from near sea level to almost 6,000 feet, so drink extra water the first week. From October on, check Raton Pass and I-70 weather each morning. On a personally procured move, weigh your truck empty and full and keep every receipt.
Fort Carson vs Fort Stewart: What Changes Day to Day
| Topic | Fort Stewart / Hunter | Fort Carson |
|---|---|---|
| Post | Largest Army installation east of the Mississippi, 279,270 acres. Home of the 3rd Infantry Division. | South edge of Colorado Springs. Home of the 4th Infantry Division and 10th Special Forces Group. |
| Weather | Coastal, humid, near sea level. Hurricane season in summer and fall. | Dry, about 300 days of sun, just under 6,000 feet. Snow melts fast. |
| Big city | Savannah is about 41 miles northeast of Fort Stewart. | Downtown is about 15 minutes. Denver is 60 to 75 minutes north. |
| Schools | Liberty, Bryan, Long, or Chatham County schools. | Fountain-Fort Carson District 8 runs the on-post schools. |
| Commute | Hinesville sits right outside post. Richmond Hill, Pooler, and Savannah mean a longer daily drive to Fort Stewart. | Three gates (1, 3, and 20) never close. Gate 20 is 10 to 15 minutes from Fountain and Lorson Ranch. |
For neighborhoods by gate, in-processing, and on-post housing, see our PCS to Fort Carson guide.
Your Timeline From Fort Stewart Orders to a Fort Carson Closing
Count backward from your report date. With orders in hand, we count your Fort Carson BAH as income. VA is fine with move-in inside 60 days. A later move-in can work when you name a set date tied to your report date, but generally not more than 12 months after closing.
120 days out: full pre-approval and a debt plan
Send your orders and LES. We pick the debts to pay off and decide: list or lease the Georgia house.
75 days out: house-hunting trip and contract
Fly out of Savannah on house-hunting leave; 10 days of PTDY is common. Write concessions for debt payoff into the offer.
45 days out: appraisal, insurance, and a power of attorney
Bind a Colorado policy with the roof details in hand. Get a POA if you will still be clearing Fort Stewart at closing.
10 days out: sign before the moving truck shows up
Your Fort Stewart shipment then unloads at the new house instead of going into storage.
Report date set for Fort Carson? Send it over and we map all four dates backward from it while you are still in Georgia.
Build My TimelinePCS From Fort Stewart to Fort Carson: Frequently Asked Questions
Does BAH go up when you PCS from Fort Stewart to Fort Carson?
Barely, and at many grades it goes down. In 2026, an E-5 with dependents goes from $2,310 at Fort Stewart to $2,358 at Fort Carson, a $48 raise. An O-4 drops $126. Plan your Colorado Springs budget as if BAH stays the same.
How do I start clearing Fort Stewart for a PCS?
Start at the Soldier Service Center, Building 253, where the PCS briefing runs Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 9:15 a.m. Then clear each agency and do final outs on a weekday afternoon. Hunter Army Airfield soldiers clear through the Military Personnel Division in Building 1286 in Savannah instead.
Where is the Fort Stewart transportation office for PCS?
The Fort Stewart household goods office is in Building 253, Room 2003A, open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Bring three copies of your orders. At Hunter Army Airfield, the household goods office is in Building 1286 on Haley Avenue.
How far is Fort Stewart from Fort Carson?
Fort Stewart is about 1,700 miles from Fort Carson by road. PCS travel rules allow one travel day per 350 miles, so the move authorizes five travel days. The usual routes run west on I-20 and I-40 through Amarillo, or north through St. Louis to I-70.
Can I buy a house at Fort Carson before I leave Fort Stewart?
Yes. With orders in hand, we use the Fort Carson BAH rate as income and can close while you are still in Georgia. VA accepts move-in within 60 days. A later move-in can work when you name a set date tied to your report date, but generally not more than 12 months after closing.
Should I sell or rent my house in Hinesville when I PCS to Fort Carson?
Selling makes sense when the equity is your debt-payoff fund, because BAH will not grow to help. Renting works if the rent covers the mortgage. VA does not require a signed lease. The rent can cancel out the Hinesville payment, but it never counts as extra income. With no lease yet, we can still use the rent when homes in your area rent very easily. Holding the VA loan ties up entitlement (your VA home loan benefit), though what remains can still buy at Carson.
Is homeowners insurance in Colorado Springs more than near Savannah?
It can be, for a different reason. Near Savannah, the big risks are hurricanes and flood. In Colorado Springs the premium driver is hail, which hits the Front Range often. Ask for the roof’s age and get a real quote before you sign a contract.
Related Pages
About the Author
J.D. Peck is an Area Manager and Mortgage Loan Originator (NMLS #314883) with the JD.Mortgage Team at Paramount Residential Mortgage Group, Inc. (NMLS #75243), based in Colorado Springs. 25+ years, 3,100+ closed loans, Scotsman Guide Top Originator 2026. Lending in 49 states. New York excluded.
Last updated: September 24, 2026. VA loan facts sourced from VA Pamphlet 26-7 and 38 CFR. BAH figures from the Department of Defense 2026 BAH Rates tables (with and without dependents), MHAs GA080 and CO046, effective January 1, 2026. Installation details from the Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield garrison site (home.army.mil/stewart) and Military OneSource.
Make the Same BAH Buy More at Fort Carson
Send your orders, LES, and debts. We show which payoffs bring your DTI under 41% before you clear Fort Stewart.
Source: JD.Mortgage Team at PRMG, PCS From Fort Stewart to Fort Carson: BAH, Housing Costs, and VA Loans, updated September 2026, https://jd.mortgage/pcs-fort-stewart-to-fort-carson/
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