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COASTIE CORNER

DoD Cuts 2022 Continental U.S.

Cost-of-Living Allowance

Thousands of U.S. troops will lose a monthly cost-of- This information is compared to the same cost data for
living stipend beginning Jan. 1 because fewer locations average CONUS, which serves as a benchmark. The result-
across the lower 48 states — including the Washington ing ratio is called an index. By law, a CONUS COLA rate
D.C. metro area — qualified as excessively expensive is only prescribed when the index meets a threshold of
living areas, according to a Pentagon announcement 108 percent, meaning the costs for non-housing types of
Wednesday. goods and services in a particular location are at least eight
percent more expensive than average CONUS costs. An
The Defense Department will pay out about $8.5 mil- index in excess of 108 percent would qualify for CONUS
lion to some 6,000 service members living in six metro COLA (e.g., a location that is 10 percent more expensive
areas and 20 non-metropolitan counties within the would qualify for a 2 percent COLA index).
Continental United States in 2022, the Pentagon said
Wednesday. Some 48,000 service members will drop This year, 6 MHAs will receive a decrease in CONUS
from receiving the supplement after 15 metro areas and COLA and 15 will no longer receive CONUS COLA.
21 non-metropolitan counties were removed from the list
of qualifying locations For non-MHA areas (non-metropolitan counties), 20
counties will now receive an index, and 21 will lose
The Defense Department released today the 2022 CONUS COLA.
Continental United States Cost-of-Living Allowance
(CONUS COLA) rates, which take effect Jan. 1, 2022. Military Housing Areas with the Highest
In 2022, $8.5 million will be paid to approximately 6,000 CONUS COLA Rates:
service members stationed within CONUS. New York City, NY ....6%
Long Island, NY ........3%
CONUS COLA is a supplemental allowance designed San Francisco, CA ......3%
to help offset higher prices in the highest-cost locations Nantucket, MA ..........2%
in CONUS that exceed the average costs within the
CONUS. Rates can increase, decrease, or remain the Military Housing Areas with the Largest
same, depending upon the non-housing prices in a duty Decreases:
location as compared to non-housing prices in average Boston, MA .......... 4% to 0%
CONUS. Worcester, MA ...... 4% to 0%

By law, a contractor provides the Department civilian The total amount of CONUS COLA a Service member
cost data from each military housing area (MHA) and receives varies based on geographic duty location, pay
non-MHA for the following categories: transportation, grade, years of service, and dependency status. Payments
goods and services, federal income taxes, sales taxes, and per CONUS COLA percentage point range from $33 to
miscellaneous expenses. Data is adjusted to account for $59 per month for members with dependents, and from
the amount of Basic Allowance for Subsistence, an allow- $22 to $45 per month for members without dependents.
ance meant to offset the costs for a member's meals, and Service members can calculate their CONUS COLA rate
for cost savings gained from shopping at commissaries at http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/conusCalc.cfm.
and exchanges.

Additional information about CONUS COLA can be found on the Defense Travel
Management Office website at http://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/conus.cfm.

16 The Mariner • 2021 Winter Edition • Volume 64 • Issue 3