RAF Alconbury and RAF Molesworth

When we got orders to England, every search turned up either glossy "welcome to the UK!" pages or forum posts from 2014. What we wanted was simple: how much comes in, how much goes out, and what's left over. So here it is, with a source and a check date for every number. PCS info goes stale fast, so see the Update log at the bottom.

1. Housing: OHA (not BAH)

Overseas you get Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) instead of BAH. The big difference: OHA reimburses your actual rent up to a cap. If your rent is under the cap, you don't keep the difference (DTMO).

Alconbury rent ceilings (DTMO locality Alconbury, GB001), with dependents, 2026:

Pay grade	Monthly rent ceiling
E-1 to E-4	£1,500 (~$2,072)
E-5	£1,550 (~$2,141)

Tip: OHA is set by where you live, not where you work. Your housing office confirms the locality code on your lease.

2. What rent actually looks like

Huntingdon, St Neots, St Ives and Ramsey are all in Huntingdonshire. Official averages from the Office for National Statistics, August 2026 (ONS). Last checked: Oct 2026.

Property	Avg. monthly rent
All properties	£1,057 (up 3.7% on a year earlier)
2 bedrooms	£967
3 bedrooms	£1,170
4+ bedrooms	£1,698
Semi-detached	£1,134
Terraced	£1,009

ONS only publishes these at district level, so there's no official split by town. Check current listings in your town. St Neots and St Ives often feel pricier than Ramsey, but that's our impression, not data.

Our take: For E-1 to E-4, the £1,500 cap sits comfortably above the £1,170 average for a 3-bed. A 4-bed (£1,698 average) is likely to cost you money out of pocket.

3. Energy (electricity & gas)

UK energy prices are capped by the regulator, Ofgem. For 1 October – 31 December 2026:

• Typical household (gas + electric, Direct Debit): £1,723/year ≈ £144/month
• Electricity: 26.32p/kWh + 54.83p/day standing charge
• Gas: 7.97p/kWh + 29.68p/day standing charge
• No VAT on electricity from 1 Oct 2026 to 31 Mar 2027

Source: Ofgem. Last checked: Oct 2026. The cap changes every 3 months. A family of four in an older, drafty house will likely use more than "typical," especially in winter.

4. Council tax: you're (usually) exempt

Huntingdonshire District Council exempts properties occupied by members of a visiting force, or their dependants (HDC exemptions). Last checked: Oct 2026.

But you have to apply:

1. Register for council tax with HDC when you move in.
2. Fill in the council's online Exemption or Discount Application.
3. Have proof ready. Councils typically accept a Visiting Forces Act Section 11 certificate or a letter from your unit or base (check current rules with your base legal office for exactly what HDC wants).

Open every letter from the council, even ones addressed to "The Occupier." Some councils expect payments while an application is pending, so ask HDC so you don't fall behind.

5. TV licence

A UK TV licence costs £180/year (≈ £15/month) from April 2026 (GOV.UK). Last checked: Oct 2026. You need one to watch live UK TV or use BBC iPlayer. Whether you're exempt or reimbursed as a US member depends on your situation, so ask your base legal office.

6. Phone & internet

• Home broadband: check current rate. Prices vary by street (fibre availability), and many deals are 18–24-month contracts. Ask about a military clause or cancellation fee for when you PCS.
• Mobile: UK SIM-only plans are generally cheaper than US plans. Check current rates.

7. Car: buying, insurance, fuel

• Buying: Most families buy a used UK car from departing members (base Facebook groups) or from UK dealers. Expect a manual unless you pay extra for an automatic.
• Insurance: Check current rates and providers at your base. Quotes vary hugely by age, car and record.
• Fuel: UK average in October 2026: 174.3p/litre unleaded, 199.5p/litre diesel (findpetrol UK Fuel Price Index, month in progress). That's roughly £6.60 per US gallon for unleaded. Official weekly figures: GOV.UK. Last checked: Oct 2026.

8. COLA

Overseas members get a non-taxable Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) based on rank, years of service, dependents and location. It's re-adjusted as often as twice a month. Check current rate on the DTMO COLA calculator.

Sample monthly budget (family of 4, renting off base)

This is an example, not a promise. Swap in your own numbers.

Item	Monthly	Notes / source
Rent (3-bed)	£1,170	ONS Huntingdonshire avg, Aug 2026
OHA rent reimbursement	–£1,170	Actual rent, up to the ceiling (£1,500 for E-1–E-4)
Utility allowance (income)	check current rate	Flat; DTMO
Gas + electric	£144+	Ofgem typical, Oct–Dec 2026
Water	check current rate	Confirm your supplier with your landlord
Council tax	£0	If HDC exemption is approved
TV licence	£15	Only if required; ask legal
Broadband	check current rate
Mobile (x2)	check current rate
Fuel	~£100+	e.g. ~57 L at 174.3p; depends on commute
Car insurance	check current rate	Varies hugely
Groceries	check current rate	Commissary vs. Tesco/Aldi

What we learned: The rent side is mostly a wash if you stay under the cap. The utility allowance is where you come out ahead or behind, so pick an energy-efficient house (ask for the EPC rating) and get bills on Direct Debit.

Quick checklist before you sign a lease

1. Look up your exact OHA ceiling on DTMO today.
2. Ask the housing office to confirm the locality code.
3. Ask the landlord for the home's EPC energy rating.
4. File your HDC council tax exemption the week you move in.
5. Get car insurance quotes before you buy the car.

More UK pages

• RAF Croughton and RAF Fairford. Neither page prints an OHA ceiling.
• OHA in the UK for the rent, utility, and move-in rules.
• PCS to the UK checklist for passports, pets, driving, schools, and shipping.

Which base should I cover next? Use the email signup at the bottom of the page and tell us. We'll write the same breakdown for it. TODO: that button is a placeholder until you paste your Google Form link.

Update log

Date	Change
Oct 2026	First version. OHA (16 Jul 2026 table via pcscalculator.net), ONS Aug 2026 rents, Ofgem Oct–Dec 2026 cap, TV licence 2026/27, Oct 2026 fuel.