The U.S. Army pays for housing through allowances like the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), which varies by location, rank, and dependency status, essentially covering most rent/mortgage costs; however, if living in government-provided barracks or on-base housing, soldiers pay a small fee (Basic Allowance for Subsistence, BAS, and sometimes a housing charge, but BAH is adjusted), while the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has rent assistance, home ownership schemes (DHOAS), and members pay contributions for on-base housing, with rates dependent on rank and type of accommodation, all designed to subsidize costs for members.
Defence uses rent ceilings and contribution rates to help work out how much rent allowance you may get. Your rent allowance is equal to your fortnightly rate of rent minus your contribution amount. Defence reviews housing contributions each year to reflect market changes.
Your accommodation is taken directly out of your pay, your food and drinks are added to your mess bill which most people arrange to pay monthly via direct debit.
The Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme (DHOAS) assists current and former Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and their families to achieve home ownership. DHOAS is administered by the Department of Veterans' Affairs on behalf of the Department of Defence.
Is $30,000 enough for a house deposit? It can be, especially for properties under $500,000 or if you're eligible for First Home Guarantee or First Home Super Saver Scheme. You may still need to pay Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).
Annual income: $70,000 (around $5,833 per month) Estimated mortgage repayment: about $2,500 per month on a $420,000 loan at 6.25% Ongoing homeownership costs: between $650 and $1,200 per month (covering rates, insurance, strata, and maintenance)
For a house priced at $800,000, this means you would need a minimum deposit of $160,000. This 20% deposit reduces the lender's risk and eliminates the need for LMI, which is an insurance policy that protects the lender if the borrower defaults on the loan.
Soldiers' spouses and dependents can live on base with them in family housing. Parents, extended family, and friends cannot live on base but are welcome to visit. While visiting family members and friends cannot stay overnight in the barracks, there are on-base accommodations for them.
As of Jan 9, 2026, the average annual pay for an Army Soldier in the United States is $25,522 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $12.27 an hour. This is the equivalent of $490/week or $2,126/month.
🍽️ In the Army, the Dining Facility (DFAC) provides Soldiers with quality meals every day. For a large number of our Soldiers, especially those living in the barracks, this means free food!
Key Takeaways. ADF members can access three main housing entitlements – HPAS, HPSEA, and DHOAS – to help buy, sell, or repay a home. HPAS offers a one-off $16,949 payment (before tax) to assist with a first home purchase in your posting location, provided you live there for at least 12 months.
Is Australian Defence Force pay tax-free? The general answer is “no”. Most ADF members are required by law to pay income tax based on salary, wages, and allowances earned for the income year. Income tax exemption may apply to ADF members deployed overseas on eligible duty in a specified area.
Benefits in brief
While some lenders will lend you 95% of the property's value (the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme may allow purchases with as little as 5% deposit without LMI for eligible buyers), that's likely to be 80% for an investment property. In theory, that means your $100,000 could be your deposit on a property worth $500,000.
3.5% down payment options
You can buy a $300,000 house with just a $10,500 down payment using an FHA loan. These loans are easier to qualify for than conventional loans, especially if your credit score is lower.
Using this free income calculator, the approximate income you need to buy a $500,000 home, assuming you need a $400,000 loan, is $77,000 gross per year, excluding superannuation.
This means, if you were buying a property for £300,000, you would need a mortgage deposit of £15,000. Depending on your circumstances and the property you are buying, you may need a higher deposit (e.g. 10% mortgage deposit, or 90% mortgage).
Here's an example of how this formula works: Budget 50% of your income towards living expenses like rent, bills and groceries. Budget 30% of your income towards lifestyle costs like eating out, new clothes or concert tickets. Save the remaining 20% of your income.
Most Americans Earn Far Less Than $100k
According to last year's YouGov data, only 18% of U.S. adults earn more than $100,000 annually. And the biggest earners are mostly men—25%—and those aged 35 to 44—25%. For comparison, just 12% of women make six figures.
Calculation details
On a £120,000 salary, your take home pay will be £76,157.40 after tax and National Insurance. This equates to £6,346.45 per month and £1,464.57 per week. If you work 5 days per week, this is £292.91 per day, or £36.61 per hour at 40 hours per week.