{"data":{"id":"us/5-cfr-591.206","jurisdiction":"us","citation":"5 CFR 591.206","heading":"How does OPM establish COLA areas?","body":"(a) OPM designates, within nonforeign areas, areas where agencies pay employees a COLA by virtue of living costs that are substantially higher than those in the Washington, DC, area. In establishing the boundaries of COLA areas, OPM considers—\n(1) The existence of a well-defined economic community,\n(2) The availability of consumer goods and services,\n(3) The concentration of Federal employees covered by this subpart, and\n(4) Unique circumstances related to a specific location.\n(b) If a department or agency wants OPM to consider establishing or revising the definition of a COLA area, the head of the department or agency or his or her designee must submit a request in writing to OPM.","path":["Title 5—Administrative Personnel","CHAPTER I—OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT","SUBCHAPTER B—CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS","PART 591—ALLOWANCES AND DIFFERENTIALS","Subpart B—Cost-of-Living Allowance and Post Differential—Nonforeign Areas"],"source_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2026-08-25/title-5.xml","current_through":"2026-08-25","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T02:23:53Z","sha256":"205dfc5fd7d81ce551902290d8beecd171869ea8ae49ec82a9280deaccad6ff6","source_id":"us-cfr","stale":true,"prev":"us/5-cfr-591.205","next":"us/5-cfr-591.207"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}