The Federal Government pays nonforeign area cost-of-living
allowances (COLAs) based on differences in living costs between the allowance
areas and the Washington, DC, area. Section 5941 of title 5, United States
Code, limits COLAs to a maximum of 25 percent of basic pay. COLAs are
exempt from Federal income tax but may be subject to State and local taxes.
COLAs do not count for Federal retirement purposes.
NOTE: The effective date of the COLA rates listed
in the table below is the first day of the first applicable pay period
beginning on or after March 23, 2009.
NONFOREIGN AREA COLA RATES
Geographic Coverage
Rate(%)
Alaska
City of Anchorage and 80-kilometer (50-mile) radius by road
23
City of Fairbanks and 80-kilometer (50-mile) radius by road
23
City of Juneau and 80-kilometer (50-mile) radius by road
23
Rest of Alaska
25
Hawaii
City and County of Honolulu
25
County of Hawaii
18
County of Kauai
25
County of Maui and County of Kalawao
25
Territory
of Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands