By Fernando Castro, 20-year Navy veteran, VA Loan Specialist and Las Vegas REALTOR® with eXp Realty who has helped 100+ VA families buy homes.
Short answer: Nellis AFB (duty ZIP code 89191) and Creech AFB (duty ZIP code 89018) are both in the Nellis AFB/Las Vegas military housing area, NV212, so they share one BAH table. In 2026 an E-5 receives $2,070 a month with dependents or $1,737 without, according to the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO 2026 BAH rate file). Confirm your rate on the official DTMO BAH calculator and your LES. Questions about buying with BAH and a VA loan? Call or text Fernando Castro at (702) 530-5370, Monday to Sunday, 9 AM to 7 PM.
Your BAH is set by your orders, not by the house you pick. This page lists the official 2026 rates for the Las Vegas housing area by pay grade, the ZIP codes the Nellis Military Housing Office says Nellis and Creech families choose, and approximate drive times from each one to both main gates. For the full PCS guides, read buying a home near Nellis AFB and buying a home near Creech AFB.
2026 BAH rates for Nellis and Creech (MHA NV212)
Monthly 2026 rates for the Nellis AFB/Las Vegas, NV military housing area (NV212), from the Defense Travel Management Office's 2026 BAH rate file. Look up your own rate on the DTMO BAH calculator.
| Pay grade | With dependents (monthly) | Without dependents (monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 to E-4 | $1,941 | $1,629 |
| E-5 | $2,070 | $1,737 |
| E-6 | $2,208 | $1,818 |
| E-7 | $2,268 | $1,941 |
| E-8 | $2,337 | $2,103 |
| E-9 | $2,445 | $2,133 |
| W-1 | $2,223 | $1,908 |
| W-2 | $2,298 | $2,100 |
| W-3 | $2,385 | $2,139 |
| W-4 | $2,469 | $2,214 |
| W-5 | $2,577 | $2,283 |
| O-1E | $2,277 | $2,067 |
| O-2E | $2,370 | $2,127 |
| O-3E | $2,487 | $2,196 |
| O-1 | $2,094 | $1,806 |
| O-2 | $2,205 | $2,031 |
| O-3 | $2,382 | $2,151 |
| O-4 | $2,610 | $2,265 |
| O-5 | $2,775 | $2,301 |
| O-6 | $2,796 | $2,361 |
| O-7 and above | $2,814 | $2,400 |
In the DTMO file, E-1 through E-4 share one rate in this housing area, and O-8 through O-10 have the same rate as O-7.
Both bases use this table because the DTMO 2026 ZIP code file assigns Nellis's duty ZIP code (89191) and Creech's duty ZIP code (89018) to NV212. A few DTMO rules help when you budget:
- BAH is based on your rank, your dependency status and your permanent duty station ZIP code, not the ZIP code of the home you buy (DTMO BAH lookup).
- BAH is not intended to cover all of a service member's housing costs (DTMO).
- Individual rate protection keeps your BAH from dropping while your status stays the same. A PCS, a reduction in pay grade or a change in dependency status ends it (DTMO).
DTMO publishes new rates each year, so check the calculator for the year you'll be paid. We update this page when the new rates come out.
ZIP codes and drive times to the Nellis and Creech main gates
The Nellis Military Housing Office lists the most popular ZIP codes for Nellis families as 89084, 89085, 89031, 89087 and 89086, in and around Aliante, and for Creech personnel as 89143, 89131, 89166, 89149 and 89130, on the north and northwest side. It adds that some Nellis families choose Summerlin or Henderson's Green Valley (Nellis AFB Military Housing Office, housing.af.mil).
Drive times are approx., typical traffic varies. They come from the public OSRM route planner, which uses OpenStreetMap road data and doesn't include live traffic, checked October 27, 2026. Each route starts at the center point of the ZIP code from the U.S. Census Bureau's ZIP code (ZCTA) gazetteer and ends at the base's main gate.
| ZIP code | Area (route start point) | On the housing office list for | To Nellis Main Gate | To Creech Main Gate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89031 | North Las Vegas (Eldorado area) | Nellis | about 15 min (8 mi) | about 43 min (37 mi) |
| 89084 | North Las Vegas (Villages at Tule Springs area) | Nellis | about 18 min (10 mi) | about 45 min (38 mi) |
| 89085 | North Las Vegas (Valley Vista area) | Nellis | about 21 min (13 mi) | about 43 min (34 mi) |
| 89086 | North Las Vegas (near Deer Springs Way) | Nellis | about 12 min (6 mi) | about 47 min (40 mi) |
| 89130 | Northwest Las Vegas | Creech | about 20 min (11 mi) | about 39 min (34 mi) |
| 89131 | Northwest Las Vegas | Creech | about 28 min (16 mi) | about 38 min (32 mi) |
| 89143 | Northwest Las Vegas (Kyle Canyon area) | Creech | about 28 min (20 mi) | about 32 min (28 mi) |
| 89149 | Northwest Las Vegas (Centennial Hills area) | Creech | about 27 min (18 mi) | about 38 min (32 mi) |
| — | Skye Canyon, northwest Las Vegas | — | about 28 min (20 mi) | about 32 min (28 mi) |
| 89134 | Summerlin North (The Trails area) | Nellis (Summerlin) | about 26 min (19 mi) | about 48 min (40 mi) |
| 89138 | Summerlin West | Nellis (Summerlin) | about 31 min (22 mi) | about 49 min (40 mi) |
| 89144 | Summerlin North (The Crossing area) | Nellis (Summerlin) | about 25 min (18 mi) | about 50 min (43 mi) |
| 89012 | Henderson (MacDonald Ranch area) | Nellis (Green Valley) | about 31 min (19 mi) | about 71 min (59 mi) |
| 89052 | Henderson (Seven Hills area) | Nellis (Green Valley) | about 36 min (26 mi) | about 71 min (60 mi) |
89087 isn't in the table because the Census Bureau's ZIP code gazetteer has no center point for it. 89166 isn't in the table because its center point is open desert, so the Skye Canyon Park row stands in for the northwest edge of the valley. Read more in our Skye Canyon home buyer guide and North Las Vegas home buyer guide.
Rush hour, construction and shift changes at the gate can add time. Drive the route at your duty hours before you make an offer, and ask your sponsor how others make the trip.
Using BAH to plan a home purchase
BAH is a starting point for your budget, not a loan approval. Fernando Castro is a real estate agent; he doesn't lend money or buy houses, and nothing on this page is lending or tax advice.
- Look up your rate on the DTMO BAH calculator with the duty station ZIP code from your orders.
- Talk to a VA-approved lender about what monthly payment and loan amount fit your income, debts and credit. Your lender decides what you qualify for. Read how VA loans work in Las Vegas before you call.
- Budget for the full monthly payment, including HOA dues, insurance and property taxes, plus fuel for your commute.
- Pick ZIP codes from the table above, then tour homes in person or by video.
What VA says about its purchase loan (VA purchase loan):
- You must live in the home you buy with the loan.
- There's often no down payment, as long as the sales price isn't higher than the appraised value.
- There's no private mortgage insurance.
- Most buyers pay a one-time VA funding fee unless they're exempt (VA funding fee).
Frequently asked questions
What is the 2026 BAH at Nellis AFB?
Nellis AFB, duty ZIP code 89191, is in the Nellis AFB/Las Vegas military housing area, NV212. In 2026 an E-5 receives $2,070 a month with dependents or $1,737 without, and an O-3 receives $2,382 or $2,151, according to the Defense Travel Management Office's 2026 BAH rate file. Confirm your own rate on the DTMO BAH calculator and on your LES.
Is BAH at Creech AFB the same as at Nellis?
Yes, for 2026. The Defense Travel Management Office's 2026 ZIP code file puts Creech's duty ZIP code, 89018, in the same NV212 housing area as Nellis, so the same table applies to both bases. Check your orders for your duty station ZIP code and confirm the rate on the DTMO BAH calculator.
How much house can I afford on BAH at Nellis?
BAH alone doesn't answer that, and this page isn't lending or tax advice. BAH is set by your pay grade, your dependency status and your duty station ZIP code, and DTMO says it isn't intended to cover all of a service member's housing costs. Look up your rate on the DTMO BAH calculator, then ask a VA-approved lender what monthly payment and loan amount fit your full income, debts and credit. Budget for the whole monthly payment, including HOA dues, insurance and property taxes. Fernando Castro is a real estate agent, not a lender. He helps you find homes in the price range your lender confirms.
Does my BAH change with the ZIP code where I buy?
No. DTMO bases BAH on your rank, your dependency status and your permanent duty station ZIP code, not the ZIP code of the home you buy. A home in Henderson and a home in North Las Vegas come with the same BAH. Only the drive changes.
How long is the drive from North Las Vegas to the Nellis Main Gate?
In our route check, the drive to the Nellis Main Gate from the center of North Las Vegas ZIP codes 89031, 89084, 89085 and 89086 was about 12 to 21 minutes. These are approximate times from the public OSRM route planner, which uses OpenStreetMap road data, checked October 27, 2026. Typical traffic varies, so drive the route at your duty hours before you make an offer.
How long is the drive from northwest Las Vegas to the Creech Main Gate?
In our route check, the drive to the Creech AFB Main Gate from the center of northwest Las Vegas ZIP codes 89130, 89131, 89143 and 89149, and from Skye Canyon Park, was about 32 to 39 minutes. These are approximate times from the public OSRM route planner, which uses OpenStreetMap road data, checked October 27, 2026. Typical traffic varies, so drive the route at your shift hours before you make an offer.
Can my BAH go down while I'm stationed at Nellis or Creech?
Individual rate protection keeps your BAH from dropping while your status stays the same. According to DTMO, a PCS, a reduction in pay grade or a change in dependency status ends that protection.
Can I use a VA loan to buy near Nellis or Creech?
Yes, if you're eligible and the home will be your primary residence. VA says a VA-backed purchase loan often needs no down payment as long as the sales price isn't higher than the appraised value, and it has no private mortgage insurance. A one-time funding fee applies unless you're exempt. Your lender decides whether you qualify.
Talk it through
PCSing to Nellis or assigned to Creech? Text or call Fernando at (702) 530-5370, Monday to Sunday, 9 AM to 7 PM, or send a message. You'll get a home search built around your report date, your BAH and your drive.
BAH figures are the official 2026 DTMO rates for MHA NV212. Your LES and finance office are the final word on what you're paid. Drive times are estimates from a route planner, not a guarantee. Fernando's military service is shared as personal background only. Neither the U.S. Navy nor the Department of Defense endorses Casanova Realty Group or any product or service. Fernando is a real estate agent; he does not lend money. Talk to a VA-approved lender about your loan.