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Naval Air Station Key West

Photos

Downtown Water Front View
Housing Welcome Center
Key West Aquarium
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Cost of Living

The average cost of living in Key West is $3,256, which is in the top 0.6% of the most expensive cities in the world, ranked 52nd out of 9,294 cities around the globe, 40th out of 2,202 cities in the United States, and 3rd out of 125 cities in Florida.

The median after-tax salary is $4,591, which is enough to cover living expenses for 1.4 months. Ranked 5,974th (TOP 64%) of the best places to live in the world and 2,183rd best cities to live in the United States, and 123rd most livable city in Florida. With an estimated population of 26.4K, Key West is the 1,695th largest city in the United States.

Installation Details

Special and Critical Installation Information

Check-ins must stop at the Quarter Deck Bldg A-324 located on Boca Chica Field.

  • The command recommends not bringing family members when checking in. They suggest you wait until housing is secured. The waiting list for two and four bedroom quarters fluctuates between two to six weeks. Receiving household goods may take up to ten days after notification of delivery address. Plan financially for the six weeks temporary lodging expenses ($95-$275 per day), or more if you board your pet. Balfour Beatty Communities has restrictions on pets allowed in the housing units. Only two pets are allowed. Exotic pets are not permitted-only dogs, cats, birds, or fish. The following dog breeds are considered aggressive and are not permitted: Akita, American Bull Dog, Chow, Doberman, Pit Bull, and Rotweiller.
  • Geo- and Bachelor Quarters are furnished EXCEPT for a television. Plan to permanently store your household goods at origin versus shipment, while staying in Key West. Limited storage facilities are costly in the local community.
  • Have one month's BAH available in preparation for securing a place to live, whether it's on base or out in town.
  • The months of June through November are hurricane season. While traveling, keep in contact with your sponsor or your command. Watch the Weather Channel for storm updates and be prepared to leave if a mandatory evacuation occurs.
  • Summer white uniform is authorized year round in Key West. Certain activities, however, require specified uniforms, so a complete inventory is a must.
  • Please know all Navy personnel and their families who accept orders to Naval Air Station Key West are required to go thru the Overseas Screening Process.
  • Check-ins must stop at the Quarter Deck Bldg A-324 located on Boca Chica Field.
  • The command recommends not bringing family members when checking in. They suggest you wait until housing is secured.
  • The months of June through November are hurricane season. While traveling, keep in contact with your sponsor or your command. Watch the Weather Channel for storm updates and be prepared to leave if a mandatory evacuation occurs.
  • Summer white uniform is authorized year round in Key West. Certain activities, however, require specified uniforms, so a complete inventory is a must.
  • Please know all Navy personnel and their families who accept orders to Naval Air Station Key West are required to go thru the Overseas Screening Process.

Defense Service Network (DSN) Dialing Instructions

The DSN is the provider of long-distance communications service for the Department of Defense (DoD). Every installation has a special DSN number and the numbers vary by world-wide location. In order to place a call using DSN, the caller must be using a military phone on an installation. Cell phones cannot dial DSN numbers. When dialing a DSN number from a United States installation to another United States installation, it is unnecessary to dial the DSN 312 area code. When dialing a DSN number to/from overseas locations, the DSN area code must be included. The operator can be reached at commercial (719) 567-1110. Please note that long distance charges may be incurred.

Quarterdeck 305-293-2268

In-Depth Overview

Mission

Naval Air Station Key West's national security mission supports Warfighter Readiness requirements for Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, National Guard units, federal agencies, and allied forces.

History

The U.S. Navy's presence in Key West dates back to 1823, when a Naval Base was established to stop piracy in this area. The lower Keys were home to many wealthy shipping merchants whose fleets operated from these waters. This drew the interest of pirates such as Black Beard and Captain Jon Kidd, who used the Keys as a base from which to prey on shipping lanes. For an in depth history of NAS Key West please visit the Key West homepage.

Population

NAS Key West community consists of service members and their families from the Navy, Marines, Air Force, Army, and Coast Guard, as well as civilian employees, foreign dignitaries and retirees.

As of February 2025 28.4K

NAS Key West community consists of approximately 5300+ service members and their families from the Navy, Marines, Air Force, Army, and Coast Guard, as well as civilian employees, foreign dignitaries and retirees.

Location

Naval Air Station (NAS) Key West is located on Boca Chica Key, Monroe county, Florida. It is the second to last major island in the Florida Keys. NAS Key West has several annexes throughout Monroe county as well as Key West itself. Key West is the southernmost city in the continental United States. It is 1.5 miles wide and 4 miles long, it sits 93 miles north of Cuba, 163 miles southwest of Miami and 24.5 degrees above the equator. Emerald colored waters where the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean meet below the 42 bridges of the Overseas Highway make the three-hour drive between Miami and Key West especially beautiful. The quarterdeck phone number is 305-293-2268.

Directions

Key West International Airport

The Key West International Airport is located on South Roosevelt Blvd in Key West. If you fly into Key West contact your sponsor or the Command Duty Officer at 305-293-2268, for transportation. Be sure to advise them if you are by yourself or are accompanied by your family. Taxi service Uber and Lyft are readily available from the airport.

Bus Service

The Greyhound Bus Station is located at the Key West International airport.

Directions to NAS Key West Directions from Florida City

From the Florida Turnpike or I-95 take US-1 South. You will follow US-1 approximately 120 miles through the beautiful Florida Keys. Keep an eye on the green highway mile markers, at approximately the 8 mile marker you will find the exit for NAS Key West's Boca Chica Field. Upon arriving at front gate proceed through the gate and make the first left on Forrestal Avenue, the quarterdeck is located in Bldg A-324 (last bldg on right).

The city of Key West is 5 miles further along US-1. NAS Key West Boca Chica Field is the operational center. The other locations consist of service activities, Naval Branch Medical, NEX, Housing, MWR Facilities, etc.

If you have not received your welcome letter contact your sponsor or the Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) for maps and informational brochures. Three NAS Key West Annexes (Sigsbee, Truman, and Trumbo) are located in the city of Key West. The Housing Welcome Center and RV Park are located at Sigsbee Park, as well as the FFSC, Community Center, ATM Machine, Navy Exchange, Commissary and the Sigsbee Charter School.

Base Transportation

Currently, there is no base transportation on this installation.