DSSR · Living Quarters Allowance

Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) Rates

Effective date: July 12, 2026 Last updated: July 12, 2026

With family · Group 2

$22,300

Annual maximum

With family · Group 3

$20,300

Annual maximum

With family · Group 4

$18,300

Annual maximum

Without family · Group 2

$21,300

Annual maximum

Without family · Group 3

$18,300

Annual maximum

Without family · Group 4

$16,200

Annual maximum

Historical rate trend

Darwin, Northern Territory rate history — Annual maximum ($). Query any past effective date directly via the API.

Effective date	WF G2	WF G3	WF G4	NF G2	NF G3	NF G4
Jul 12, 2026	$22,300	$20,300	$18,300	$21,300	$18,300	$16,200
Apr 19, 2026	$22,300	$20,300	$18,300	$21,300	$18,300	$16,200
Feb 25, 2024	$21,700	$19,700	$17,700	$20,700	$17,700	$15,800
Jan 28, 2024	$20,100	$18,300	$16,500	$19,200	$16,500	$14,600
Dec 31, 2023	$20,100	$18,600	$16,500	$19,200	$16,500	$14,600
Aug 13, 2023	$20,100	$18,300	$16,500	$19,200	$16,500	$14,600
Jul 30, 2023	$20,100	$18,700	$16,500	$19,200	$16,500	$14,600
Jul 16, 2023	$20,100	$18,400	$16,500	$19,200	$16,500	$14,600
Jul 2, 2023	$20,100	$18,600	$16,500	$19,200	$16,500	$14,600
Jun 18, 2023	$20,100	$18,400	$16,500	$19,200	$16,500	$14,600
Jun 4, 2023	$20,100	$18,300	$16,500	$19,200	$16,500	$14,600
May 21, 2023	$20,100	$18,600	$16,500	$19,200	$16,500	$14,600
May 7, 2023	$20,100	$18,300	$16,500	$19,200	$16,500	$14,600
Mar 26, 2023	$20,100	$18,400	$16,500	$19,200	$16,500	$14,600
Mar 12, 2023	$20,100	$18,600	$16,500	$19,200	$16,500	$14,600
Feb 26, 2023	$20,100	$19,100	$16,500	$19,200	$16,500	$14,600
Feb 12, 2023	$20,100	$19,400	$16,500	$19,400	$16,500	$14,600
Jan 29, 2023	$20,100	$19,100	$16,500	$19,200	$16,500	$14,600
Jan 15, 2023	$19,400	$18,700	$15,600	$18,700	$15,600	$13,800
Dec 18, 2022	$19,100	$18,500	$15,600	$18,500	$15,600	$13,800
Dec 4, 2022	$19,000	$18,200	$15,600	$18,200	$15,600	$13,800
Nov 20, 2022	$19,000	$17,800	$15,600	$18,200	$15,600	$13,800
Nov 6, 2022	$19,000	$17,600	$15,600	$18,200	$15,600	$13,800
Oct 23, 2022	$19,000	$17,300	$15,600	$18,200	$15,600	$13,800
Oct 9, 2022	$19,000	$17,800	$15,600	$18,200	$15,600	$13,800
Sep 25, 2022	$19,400	$18,700	$15,600	$18,700	$15,600	$13,800
Sep 11, 2022	$19,600	$19,000	$15,600	$19,000	$15,600	$13,800
Aug 14, 2022	$19,800	$19,100	$15,600	$19,100	$15,600	$13,800
Jul 31, 2022	$19,600	$19,000	$15,600	$19,000	$15,600	$13,800
Jul 17, 2022	$19,400	$18,700	$15,600	$18,700	$15,600	$13,800
Jul 3, 2022	$19,600	$19,000	$15,600	$19,000	$15,600	$13,800
Jun 19, 2022	$20,500	$19,800	$16,200	$19,800	$16,200	$13,800
Jun 5, 2022	$20,200	$19,500	$16,000	$19,500	$16,000	$13,800
May 22, 2022	$19,800	$19,100	$15,600	$19,100	$15,600	$13,800
May 8, 2022	$20,300	$19,700	$16,100	$19,700	$16,100	$13,800
Apr 24, 2022	$21,200	$20,500	$16,800	$20,500	$16,800	$13,800
Apr 10, 2022	$21,400	$20,700	$16,900	$20,700	$16,900	$13,800
Mar 27, 2022	$20,600	$19,900	$16,300	$19,900	$16,300	$13,600
Mar 13, 2022	$20,800	$20,100	$16,400	$20,100	$16,400	$13,600
Feb 27, 2022	$20,500	$19,800	$16,200	$19,800	$16,200	$13,600
Feb 13, 2022	$20,300	$19,700	$16,100	$19,700	$16,100	$13,600
Jan 2, 2022	$20,500	$19,800	$16,200	$19,800	$16,200	$13,600
Dec 19, 2021	$20,300	$19,700	$16,100	$19,700	$16,100	$13,600
Dec 5, 2021	$20,600	$19,900	$16,300	$19,900	$16,300	$13,600
Nov 21, 2021	$21,100	$20,400	$16,700	$20,400	$16,700	$13,600
Nov 7, 2021	$21,400	$20,700	$16,900	$20,700	$16,900	$13,700
Oct 24, 2021	$20,900	$20,200	$16,500	$20,200	$16,500	$13,600
Oct 10, 2021	$20,600	$19,900	$16,300	$19,900	$16,300	$13,600
Sep 12, 2021	$20,900	$20,200	$16,500	$20,200	$16,500	$13,600
Aug 29, 2021	$20,600	$19,900	$16,300	$19,900	$16,300	$13,600
Aug 15, 2021	$21,100	$20,400	$16,700	$20,400	$16,700	$13,600
Aug 1, 2021	$20,900	$20,200	$16,500	$20,200	$16,500	$13,600
Jul 18, 2021	$21,400	$20,700	$16,900	$20,700	$16,900	$13,700
Jul 4, 2021	$21,600	$20,900	$17,100	$20,900	$17,100	$13,800
Jun 6, 2021	$22,100	$21,300	$17,400	$21,300	$17,400	$14,100
May 23, 2021	$22,200	$21,500	$17,600	$21,500	$17,600	$14,200
May 9, 2021	$22,100	$21,300	$17,400	$21,300	$17,400	$14,100
Apr 25, 2021	$21,900	$21,200	$17,300	$21,200	$17,300	$14,000
Apr 11, 2021	$21,600	$20,900	$17,100	$20,900	$17,100	$13,800
Mar 28, 2021	$22,100	$21,300	$17,400	$21,300	$17,400	$14,100
Mar 14, 2021	$22,200	$21,500	$17,600	$21,500	$17,600	$14,200
Feb 28, 2021	$22,100	$21,300	$17,400	$21,300	$17,400	$14,100
Feb 14, 2021	$21,700	$21,000	$17,200	$21,000	$17,200	$13,900
Jan 17, 2021	$22,100	$21,300	$17,400	$21,300	$17,400	$14,100
Jan 3, 2021	$21,400	$20,700	$16,900	$20,700	$16,900	$13,700
Dec 20, 2020	$21,200	$20,500	$16,800	$20,500	$16,800	$13,600
Dec 6, 2020	$20,900	$20,200	$16,500	$20,200	$16,500	$13,600
Nov 22, 2020	$20,800	$20,100	$16,400	$20,100	$16,400	$13,600
Nov 8, 2020	$20,200	$19,500	$16,000	$19,500	$16,000	$13,600
Oct 11, 2020	$20,300	$19,700	$16,100	$19,700	$16,100	$13,600
Sep 27, 2020	$20,800	$20,100	$16,400	$20,100	$16,400	$13,600
Sep 13, 2020	$20,900	$20,200	$16,500	$20,200	$16,500	$13,600
Aug 30, 2020	$20,600	$19,900	$16,300	$19,900	$16,300	$13,600
Aug 16, 2020	$20,500	$19,800	$16,200	$19,800	$16,200	$13,600
Aug 2, 2020	$20,300	$19,700	$16,100	$19,700	$16,100	$13,600
Jul 19, 2020	$19,800	$19,100	$15,600	$19,100	$15,600	$13,600
Jul 5, 2020	$19,600	$19,000	$15,500	$19,000	$15,500	$13,600
Jun 21, 2020	$19,800	$19,100	$15,600	$19,100	$15,600	$13,600
Jun 7, 2020	$18,800	$18,200	$15,300	$18,200	$15,300	$13,600
May 24, 2020	$18,700	$17,900	$15,300	$17,900	$15,300	$13,600
May 10, 2020	$18,700	$18,000	$15,300	$18,000	$15,300	$13,600
Apr 26, 2020	$18,700	$17,400	$15,300	$17,900	$15,300	$13,600
Mar 29, 2020	$18,700	$17,000	$15,300	$17,900	$15,300	$13,600
Mar 15, 2020	$18,800	$18,200	$15,300	$18,200	$15,300	$13,600
Mar 1, 2020	$19,000	$18,400	$15,300	$18,400	$15,300	$13,600
Feb 16, 2020	$19,200	$18,600	$15,300	$18,600	$15,300	$13,600
Jan 19, 2020	$19,500	$18,900	$15,400	$18,900	$15,400	$13,600
Jan 5, 2020	$19,800	$19,100	$15,600	$19,100	$15,600	$13,600
Dec 22, 2019	$19,500	$18,900	$15,400	$18,900	$15,400	$13,600
Nov 24, 2019	$19,400	$18,700	$15,300	$18,700	$15,300	$13,600
Nov 10, 2019	$19,500	$18,900	$15,400	$18,900	$15,400	$13,600
Oct 27, 2019	$19,200	$18,600	$15,300	$18,600	$15,300	$13,600
Oct 13, 2019	$19,100	$18,500	$15,300	$18,500	$15,300	$13,600
Sep 1, 2019	$19,400	$18,700	$15,300	$18,700	$15,300	$13,600
Aug 18, 2019	$19,200	$18,600	$15,300	$18,600	$15,300	$13,600
Aug 4, 2019	$19,900	$19,300	$15,700	$19,300	$15,700	$13,600
Jul 21, 2019	$19,800	$19,100	$15,600	$19,100	$15,600	$13,600
Jul 7, 2019	$19,900	$19,300	$15,700	$19,300	$15,700	$13,600
May 26, 2019	$19,800	$19,100	$15,600	$19,100	$15,600	$13,600
May 12, 2019	$20,000	$19,400	$15,800	$19,400	$15,800	$13,600
Apr 28, 2019	$20,500	$19,800	$16,200	$19,800	$16,200	$13,600
Mar 31, 2019	$20,200	$19,500	$16,000	$19,500	$16,000	$13,600
Mar 17, 2019	$20,000	$19,400	$15,800	$19,400	$15,800	$13,600
Feb 17, 2019	$20,300	$19,700	$16,100	$19,700	$16,100	$13,600
Jan 20, 2019	$20,300	$19,700	$16,100	$19,700	$16,100	$13,000
Jan 6, 2019	$20,000	$19,400	$15,800	$19,400	$15,800	$12,800
Dec 23, 2018	$20,500	$19,800	$16,200	$19,800	$16,200	$13,100
Dec 9, 2018	$20,800	$20,100	$16,400	$20,100	$16,400	$13,300
Nov 25, 2018	$20,600	$19,900	$16,300	$19,900	$16,300	$13,200
Oct 14, 2018	$20,300	$19,700	$16,100	$19,700	$16,100	$13,000
Sep 30, 2018	$20,600	$19,900	$16,300	$19,900	$16,300	$13,200
Sep 16, 2018	$20,500	$19,800	$16,200	$19,800	$16,200	$13,100
Sep 2, 2018	$20,900	$20,200	$16,500	$20,200	$16,500	$13,400
Jul 22, 2018	$21,100	$20,400	$16,700	$20,400	$16,700	$13,500
Jul 8, 2018	$20,900	$20,200	$16,500	$20,200	$16,500	$13,400
Jun 10, 2018	$21,600	$20,900	$17,100	$20,900	$17,100	$13,800
May 13, 2018	$21,400	$20,700	$16,900	$20,700	$16,900	$13,700
Apr 29, 2018	$22,100	$21,300	$17,400	$21,300	$17,400	$14,100
Apr 1, 2018	$21,900	$21,200	$17,300	$21,200	$17,300	$14,000
Mar 18, 2018	$22,200	$21,500	$17,600	$21,500	$17,600	$14,200
Feb 18, 2018	$22,400	$21,700	$17,700	$21,700	$17,700	$14,400
Feb 4, 2018	$23,000	$22,200	$18,200	$22,200	$18,200	$14,700
Jan 21, 2018	$22,400	$21,700	$17,700	$21,700	$17,700	$14,400
Jan 7, 2018	$22,100	$21,300	$17,400	$21,300	$17,400	$14,100
Dec 10, 2017	$21,600	$20,900	$17,100	$20,900	$17,100	$13,800
Nov 26, 2017	$21,700	$21,000	$17,200	$21,000	$17,200	$13,900
Nov 12, 2017	$21,900	$21,200	$17,300	$21,200	$17,300	$14,000
Oct 29, 2017	$22,400	$21,700	$17,700	$21,700	$17,700	$14,400
Oct 15, 2017	$22,200	$21,500	$17,600	$21,500	$17,600	$14,200
Sep 17, 2017	$22,800	$22,000	$18,000	$22,000	$18,000	$14,600
Aug 20, 2017	$22,400	$21,700	$17,700	$21,700	$17,700	$14,400
Aug 6, 2017	$22,600	$21,800	$17,900	$21,800	$17,900	$14,500
Jul 9, 2017	$21,700	$21,000	$17,200	$21,000	$17,200	$13,900
Jun 25, 2017	$21,600	$20,900	$17,100	$20,900	$17,100	$13,800
May 28, 2017	$21,100	$20,400	$16,700	$20,400	$16,700	$13,500
May 14, 2017	$21,200	$20,500	$16,800	$20,500	$16,800	$13,600
Apr 30, 2017	$21,400	$20,700	$16,900	$20,700	$16,900	$13,700
Apr 16, 2017	$21,600	$20,900	$17,100	$20,900	$17,100	$13,800
Apr 2, 2017	$21,900	$21,200	$17,300	$21,200	$17,300	$14,000
Mar 19, 2017	$21,600	$20,900	$17,100	$20,900	$17,100	$13,800
Mar 5, 2017	$21,900	$21,200	$17,300	$21,200	$17,300	$14,000
Feb 19, 2017	$21,700	$21,000	$17,200	$21,000	$17,200	$13,900
Feb 5, 2017	$21,600	$20,900	$17,100	$20,900	$17,100	$13,800
Jan 22, 2017	$21,100	$20,400	$16,700	$20,400	$16,700	$13,500
Jan 8, 2017	$20,500	$19,800	$16,200	$19,800	$16,200	$13,100
Dec 25, 2016	$21,200	$20,500	$16,800	$20,500	$16,800	$13,600
Dec 11, 2016	$21,100	$20,400	$16,700	$20,400	$16,700	$13,500
Nov 27, 2016	$21,400	$20,700	$16,900	$20,700	$16,900	$13,700
Oct 16, 2016	$21,900	$21,200	$17,300	$21,200	$17,300	$14,000
Oct 2, 2016	$21,600	$20,900	$17,100	$20,900	$17,100	$13,800
Sep 18, 2016	$21,900	$21,200	$17,300	$21,200	$17,300	$14,000
Sep 4, 2016	$21,700	$21,000	$17,200	$21,000	$17,200	$13,900
Aug 21, 2016	$21,900	$21,200	$17,300	$21,200	$17,300	$14,000
Aug 7, 2016	$21,400	$20,700	$16,900	$20,700	$16,900	$13,700
Jul 24, 2016	$21,700	$21,000	$17,200	$21,000	$17,200	$13,900
Jul 10, 2016	$21,100	$20,400	$16,700	$20,400	$16,700	$13,500
Jun 26, 2016	$20,900	$20,200	$16,500	$20,200	$16,500	$13,400
May 29, 2016	$20,600	$19,900	$16,300	$19,900	$16,300	$13,200
May 15, 2016	$21,400	$20,700	$16,900	$20,700	$16,900	$13,700
May 1, 2016	$22,200	$21,500	$17,600	$21,500	$17,600	$14,200
Apr 17, 2016	$21,400	$20,700	$16,900	$20,700	$16,900	$13,700
Apr 3, 2016	$21,600	$20,900	$17,100	$20,900	$17,100	$13,800
Mar 20, 2016	$21,200	$20,500	$16,800	$20,500	$16,800	$13,600
Mar 6, 2016	$20,500	$19,800	$16,200	$19,800	$16,200	$13,100
Feb 7, 2016	$20,000	$19,400	$15,800	$19,400	$15,800	$13,000
Jan 24, 2016	$19,900	$19,300	$15,700	$19,300	$15,700	$13,000
Jan 10, 2016	$20,800	$20,100	$16,400	$20,100	$16,400	$13,300
Dec 27, 2015	$20,500	$19,800	$16,200	$19,800	$16,200	$13,100
Dec 13, 2015	$20,800	$20,100	$16,400	$20,100	$16,400	$13,300
Nov 29, 2015	$20,300	$19,700	$16,100	$19,700	$16,100	$13,000
Nov 15, 2015	$20,500	$19,800	$16,200	$19,800	$16,200	$13,100
Nov 1, 2015	$20,600	$19,900	$16,300	$19,900	$16,300	$13,200
Oct 18, 2015	$20,500	$19,800	$16,200	$19,800	$16,200	$13,100
Sep 20, 2015	$20,000	$19,400	$15,800	$19,400	$15,800	$12,900
Sep 6, 2015	$20,300	$19,700	$16,100	$19,700	$16,100	$13,000
Aug 23, 2015	$20,900	$20,200	$16,500	$20,200	$16,500	$13,400
Aug 9, 2015	$20,800	$20,100	$16,400	$20,100	$16,400	$13,300
Jul 26, 2015	$21,200	$20,500	$16,800	$20,500	$16,800	$13,600
Jul 12, 2015	$21,700	$21,000	$17,200	$21,000	$17,200	$13,900
Jun 14, 2015	$22,100	$21,300	$17,400	$21,300	$17,400	$14,100
May 17, 2015	$22,600	$21,800	$17,900	$21,800	$17,900	$14,500
May 3, 2015	$22,100	$21,300	$17,400	$21,300	$17,400	$14,100
Apr 19, 2015	$21,900	$21,200	$17,300	$21,200	$17,300	$14,000
Apr 5, 2015	$22,400	$21,700	$17,700	$21,700	$17,700	$14,400
Mar 22, 2015	$21,700	$21,000	$17,200	$21,000	$17,200	$13,900
Jan 12, 2014	$30,600	$29,600	$24,200	$29,600	$24,200	$19,600

Page of · 186 rows

WF = with family, NF = without family; G2–G4 = quarters groups (set by grade). Values are annual maximums in USD.

How this rate is used

The Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) reimburses U.S. government civilian employees for actual rent and utilities at Darwin, Northern Territory, up to an annual maximum that depends on the employee's quarters group (a function of grade) and whether they are accompanied by family. The six annual ceilings shown — quarters groups 2, 3 and 4, each with and without family — are what mobility, HR and payroll teams use to budget overseas housing costs and set LQA grants.

Get this data from the API

The exact request that returns this page's data. Change the date parameter to query any historical effective date, or pull it straight into your ERP, payroll, or expense system.

curl -H "X-API-Key: YOUR_KEY" \

  "https://api.allowancesapi.com/v1/dssr/allowances/AU?type=lqa"

Sample response

{
  "effective_date": "2026-07-12",
  "results": [
    {
      "iso_code": "AU",
      "location": "Darwin, Northern Territory",
      "lqa": {
        "with_family_group_2": 22300,
        "with_family_group_3": 20300,
        "with_family_group_4": 18300,
        "without_family_group_2": 21300,
        "without_family_group_3": 18300,
        "without_family_group_4": 16200
      },
      "postcode": "12342"
    }
  ],
  "verification_url": "https://allowances.state.gov/Web920/lqa_all.asp?MenuHide=1"
}

Get a free API key API reference

Darwin, Northern Territory rate FAQ

What is the LQA rate for Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia?

The current DSSR Living Quarters Allowance (LQA) annual maximum for Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia ranges by quarters group and family status — for quarters group 2 it is $22,300 with family and $21,300 without family. All six series (groups 2–4, with and without family) are shown in the chart and table above.

How is the Darwin, Northern Territory LQA maximum determined?

LQA maximums depend on the employee's quarters group (set by grade) and whether they have family at post. The State Department publishes the six annual ceilings for Darwin, Northern Territory; actual LQA reimburses real rent and utilities up to the applicable ceiling.

How has the Darwin, Northern Territory LQA changed over time?

In Apr 19, 2026 the quarters-group-2 with-family maximum was $22,300; it is now $22,300. The full year-by-year history for all six series is in the table above and is queryable by effective date via the API.

Source & methodology

Official source: U.S. Department of State, Office of Allowances — LQA (DSSR §920)
Effective period: Effective Jul 12, 2026
Last updated: July 12, 2026

Allowances API is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any U.S. Government agency. All rate data is sourced from official public rate tables and re-published in a normalized format.

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