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PROGRAM
OVERVIEW:
- Impacts over 70,000 Service members in 33 MHAs and 15 other counties in the Continental United States.
- Compensates for a portion of excess costs for non-housing expenses incurred in areas that exceed costs in an average U.S. military location by more than 8%. Housing and housing-related costs are covered under the basic allowance for housing (BAH) and excluded from CONUS COLA. Members must absorb the first 8% of expenses above the national average.
- An average E-6, with dependents and 10 years of service, receives $30 per month for each COLA index point. Index points currently range from one to eleven.
- Qualification for CONUS COLA is based on geographic duty location, i.e., the zip code of duty station.
- COLA indexes have been computed for all military housing areas (MHAs), which represent major metropolitan areas and installations throughout CONUS. MHAs, a collection of zip codes, are determined and defined by the BAH program. Other non-MHA areas are also considered as eligible for the program based on costs for cities, townships or urban areas in the vicinity. Indexes are adjusted annually based on new cost data.
COMPUTING LOCAL COSTS
- Local market prices are provided by a private contractor.
- Availability and average savings enjoyed through use of Government supported commissary and exchange services are provided by a private contractor.
- Utilization rates for commissary and exchange facilities are obtained from living pattern surveys conducted approximately once every three years by the Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee through the Defense Manpower Data Center. This survey is mailed to over 9400 CONUS-based Service members randomly selected by pay grade, Service and geographic region.
- Importance of each category of goods and services (weighting) is determined by the Consumer Expenditure Survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Food At Home
GROUND BEEF
SIRLOIN STEAK
ROUND STEAK
PORK CHOPS
BACON
CHICKEN, WHOLE
FISH, FRESH
LUNCH MEAT
EGGS, LARGE
COOKING OIL
MILK, FRESH
CHEESE, NATURAL
ICE CREAM
BREAD, WHOLE WHEAT
SNACK FOOD
CEREAL
COFFEE, GROUND
SOFT DRINK
BABY FOOD
DINNER ROLLS
NATURAL SPRING WATER
CANDY BAR
SOY SAUCE
DONUTS
COOKIES
CANNED SOUP
FROZEN PIZZA
PASTA
APPLES, FRESH
BANANAS, FRESH
JUICE
FRUIT PRESERVES
POTATOES
TOMATOES, FRESH
CANNED VEGETABLE
FROZEN VEGETABLE
Food Away
BREAKFAST
LUNCH
DINNER
FAST FOOD BURGER
Tobacco
CIGARETTES
Alcohol
WINE
BEER
BEER AWAY
WINE AWAY
Household Supplies/Furnishings
SCOURING POWDER
TOILET TISSUE
LIGHT BULB
BED SHEET SET
BATH TOWEL
DISHWASHING LIQUID
LAUNDRY DETERGENT
HOUSE PLANT
LAWN EQUIPMENT
GARBAGE BAG
GLASS MEASURING CUP
COMPUTER SYSTEM
POSTAGE
PAPER
TELEPHONE
WASHING MACHINE
REFRIGERATOR
MICROWAVE OVEN
TWO-SLICES TOASTER
BEDROOM GROUP
DINING ROOM GROUP
LIVING ROOM CHAIR
MONTHLY TELEPHONE COSTS
Clothing
MAN'S 2-PIECE SUIT
MAN'S SLACKS
MAN'S SHIRT
MAN'S SHOES
MAN'S JEANS
WOMAN'S DRESS
WOMAN'S BLOUSE
WOMAN'S SLACKS
WOMAN'S SHOES
BOY'S JEANS
WOMAN'S JEANS
WOMAN'S T SHIRT
JEWELRY
GIRL'S JEANS
DISPOSABLE DIAPERS
COIN LAUNDRY
DRY CLEAN MAN'S SUIT
Domestic Service
DAY CARE
BABYSITTER
HOUSEKEEPER
Medical Care
PAIN RELIEVER
TETRACYCLINE
INSULIN
DOCTOR VISIT
DENTIST, FILLING
DENTIST, CLEAN TEETH
VISION EXAM
CONTACT LENSES
Personal Care
WOMAN'S CUT BLOW DRY
MAN'S HAIRCUT
LIPSTICK
SHAMPOO
PERFUME
Recreation
CAMERA FILM
PAPERBACK BOOK
MOVIE THEATER
COLOR TELEVISION
GOLF
TENNIS BALLS
VIDEO RENTAL
COMPACT DISC
HEALTH CLUB
GAME
BASIC CABLE
PET FOOD
VET SERVICES
LOCAL NEWSPAPER
Transportation-2 Vehicles
GAS, OIL, MAINTENANCE & TIRES
LICENSE, TITLE, REGISTRATION, INSPECTION FEES & TAXES
DEPRECIATION
FINANCE CHARGES
INSURANCE (COMPREHENSIVE, COLLISION & LIABILITY)
PAYMENT OF COLA
- Payment of COLA is based on regular military compensation (RMC) and spendable income.
- RMC includes basic pay, basic allowance for subsistence, an average basic allowance for housing (BAH) and the tax advantage. Spendable income is total income, less Federal income taxes, housing and housing-related expenses, gifts and contributions, life insurance and savings.
- CONUS COLA is a taxable allowance; an amount is added to cover an average income tax.
- COLA is computed separately for members with or without dependents.
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