U.S. Office of Personnel Management NONFOREIGN AREA COST-OF-LIVING ALLOWANCES

The U.S. Government pays cost-of-living allowances (COLAs) to white-collar civilian Federal employees in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Approximately 44,000 employees, including U.S. Postal Service employees, receive these nonforeign area COLAs. Section 5941 of title 5, United States Code, and Executive Order 10000 (as amended) authorize the payment of COLAs in nonforeign areas.

To set the COLA rates, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) surveys the prices of over 200 items, including goods and services, housing, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses. OPM conducts these surveys in each of the allowance areas and in the Washington, DC, area.

COLA Advisory Committees Proposed Methodology Changes; Other New Rules Report to Congress Special COLA Research Announcement Settlement of Caraballo v. United States Recent Survey Reports and Regulations Memorandum of Understanding Post Differentials

COLA RATE TABLE Current COLA Rates

For more information on nonforeign area cost-of-living allowances, call (202) 606-2838, fax (202) 606-4264, or email cola@opm.gov.