One of the Biggest Decisions in Military Life: On Base or Off Base? The choice between on base housing vs off base housing for military families is one of the first — and most important — decisions you'll face after receiving PCS orders. Here's a quick breakdown to answer the core question right away: Factor On-Base Housing Off-Base Housing Cost BAH goes directly to … [Read more...] about On-Base vs Off-Base Military Housing: Pros, Cons & Costs