Per diem rates by city for travel assignments
Look up the federal lodging and meals rate for the city of your assignment, and see what it adds up to per week and over a 13-week contract.
- Lodging: $176 a night
- Meals and incidentals: $80 a day
- 13 weeks: $23,296
Highest per diem among large cities
| City | Lodging / night | Meals / day | Per week |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $277 | $92 | $2,583 |
| Boston, MA | $273 | $92 | $2,555 |
| Cambridge, MA | $273 | $92 | $2,555 |
| Santa Monica, CA | $273 | $92 | $2,555 |
| San Francisco, CA | $263 | $92 | $2,485 |
| Charleston, SC | $246 | $92 | $2,366 |
| North Charleston, SC | $246 | $92 | $2,366 |
| Mount Pleasant, SC | $246 | $92 | $2,366 |
| Summerville, SC | $246 | $92 | $2,366 |
| Goose Creek, SC | $246 | $92 | $2,366 |
| Washington, DC | $234 | $92 | $2,282 |
| Napa, CA | $234 | $92 | $2,282 |
| Nashville, TN | $222 | $86 | $2,156 |
| Bozeman, MT | $221 | $80 | $2,107 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $214 | $92 | $2,142 |
| Santa Barbara, CA | $214 | $92 | $2,142 |
| Salinas, CA | $209 | $92 | $2,107 |
| Seattle, WA | $208 | $92 | $2,100 |
| Bellevue, WA | $208 | $92 | $2,100 |
| Kent, WA | $208 | $92 | $2,100 |
| Renton, WA | $208 | $92 | $2,100 |
| Federal Way, WA | $208 | $92 | $2,100 |
| Kirkland, WA | $208 | $92 | $2,100 |
| Auburn, WA | $208 | $92 | $2,100 |
| Redmond, WA | $208 | $92 | $2,100 |
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, FY2026. Lodging is the average across months. Cities not listed separately by GSA use the federal standard rate.
Common questions
What is the GSA per diem?
It is the federal rate for lodging and meals when employees travel, set for each location by the U.S. General Services Administration. Travel nursing agencies use it as the benchmark for tax-free housing and meals stipends.
Is my stipend tax-free?
Only if you keep a valid tax home and the assignment is temporary. The rate in this table is a benchmark, not a promise. Confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional.
How is the weekly number calculated?
Seven nights of lodging plus seven days of meals and incidentals, using the average rate across the 12 months of fiscal year 2026.