CFR > Title 5 - Administrative Personnel > CHAPTER I—OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT > SUBCHAPTER B—CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS (parts 110 to 990) > PART 591—ALLOWANCES AND DIFFERENTIALS > SUBPART B—Cost-of-Living Allowance and Post Differential—Nonforeign Areas (§591.201 to §591.244) > 591.202—Why does the Government pay COLAs?

591.202—Why does the Government pay COLAs?

The Government pays COLAs as additional compensation to certain civilian Federal employees in specified nonforeign areas in consideration of higher living costs in the local area compared with living costs in the Washington, DC, area.