The most honest military-to-civilian financial comparison available. Includes real civilian costs other calculators ignore: rent, food, health insurance, car, childcare, and your VA disability compensation.
📊 2026 Military Pay Tables🏠 Real Civilian Costs🏥 VA Disability Included👨👩👧 Family Size Matters📈 10-Year Projections
🪖 Your Military Situation
Pay & Grade
Housing, Location & Family
BAH amounts shown for E-5. Your actual BAH is calculated from your grade and family size below.
Used for BAH rate, VA disability pay, food costs, and childcare estimates.
Additional Military Pay
Total bonus amount (spread over contract years)
VA Disability — After You Separate
⚠️ VA disability compensation is NOT collected while on active duty. It counts only on your civilian side — paid after separation. Rate based on your dependent count above.
Household Income While Serving
Spouse employment income while you are active duty
Rental income, side business, spouse GI Bill, etc.
💼 Civilian Side
Your Household Income
Include spouse employment income, business income, etc.
Rental income, side business, GI Bill BAH, disability not already counted, etc.
Include promotions. Avg 2-4%.
Housing
National avg ~$1,700. HCOL cities: $2,500+
Avg US: $250–350/month
Food (family size pulled from Dependents above)
Health Insurance After Separation
Avg family plan employee share: $500–700/mo
Amount employer or VA contributes toward your plan
Transportation
Avg used 2026: ~$530/mo. New: ~$735/mo
National avg full coverage: $150–220/mo
Avg US: $1,230/child/mo. $0 if no young kids.
Other
⚖️ Quality of Life Factors (1=Civilian favored, 5=Military favored)
1-Civilian5-Military
1-Deployments hurting family5-Family supports it
1-Done with it5-Fine with it
1-Better ceiling civilian5-Military track better
1-Ready for civilian life5-Want to keep serving
1-Just starting5-Close to 20
💰 Gross vs Net — Income Tax Breakdown
💵 Monthly Cash Flow — What Actually Hits Your Pocket