Compare two bases

Fort Drum vs Fort Riley

An E-5 with dependents gets $351 more BAH a month at Fort Drum ($1,665 at Fort Drum, $1,314 at Fort Riley). After a 2-bedroom fair market rent, that leaves about $212 at Fort Drum and $207 at Fort Riley. The two are about 1,136 miles apart in a straight line.

Side by side

Dependents
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Army · NYFort Drum
Army · KSFort Riley
BAH, E-5 with dependents (2026 DoD BAH rate)
$1,665
$1,314
Rent, 2 bedrooms (HUD FY2027 fair market rent)
$1,453
$1,107
Left after rent each month
$212
$207
Cost of living index (100 is the U.S. average, our estimate)
72
60
Housing cost index
68
50
Groceries index
78
65
Schools nearby (our count)
22 Watertown City School District, Carthage Central School District
24 Geary County Schools USD 475, Manhattan-Ogden USD 383
On-base services listed
14
14
On-base housing wait (our estimate, call the housing office)
About 3 mo Family housing on base
About 3 mo Family housing on base
Distance between
About 1,136 milesStraight line. Estimate your move money.

Both are Army installations, so they often land on the same wish list or the same set of orders. Gold ticks mark the better number in each row. BAH from the DoD 2026 rate tables; confirm yours with the DoD BAH calculator.

Link to this comparisonFort Drum BAH vs rentFort Riley BAH vs rent
Compare different bases

Try another pair

CompareFort Bragg vs Fort CampbellE-5 BAH $1,806 vs $1,815 CompareJoint Base Lewis-McChord vs Fort CarsonE-5 BAH $2,556 vs $2,358 CompareFort Hood vs Fort BlissE-5 BAH $1,695 vs $1,809
FAQ

Fort Drum or Fort Riley?

Which pays more BAH, Fort Drum or Fort Riley?

For an E-5 with dependents, Fort Drum pays more: $1,665 a month against $1,314, from the DoD 2026 BAH tables. Pick your own grade above to compare yours.

Is rent cheaper near Fort Drum or Fort Riley?

A 2-bedroom fair market rent is $1,453 near Fort Drum and $1,107 near Fort Riley (HUD FY2027, rent plus basic utilities). Real listings vary by neighborhood.

How far apart are Fort Drum and Fort Riley?

About 1,136 miles in a straight line. Driving distance is longer. If you are moving between them, the move money calculator estimates your travel pay.