California Per Diem Rates 2026 (GSA FY2027)
The standard FY2027 per diem in California is $113 lodging + $68 M&IE ($181/day); 32 locations have higher rates, up to $325/night in San Francisco.
Effective Thu, Oct 1, 2026 to Thu, Sep 30, 2027.
$181
Standard rate per day
$113 lodging + $68 M&IE
32
Listed higher-rate locations
in California
$325
Highest lodging per night
San Francisco, Jan 1–Mar 31
$92
Highest M&IE per day
Mill Valley / San Rafael / Novato
Highest lodging rate by California city
Standard rate: $113/night (applies to every city not listed)
- San Francisco$325
- Monterey$293
- Santa Monica$283
- Santa Barbara$277
- Napa$266
- South Lake Tahoe$262
- San Diego$249
- Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose$218
- San Mateo / Foster City / Belmont$217
- San Luis Obispo$213
- Yosemite National Park$212
- Mammoth Lakes$208
- Los Angeles$199
- Palm Springs$192
- Eureka / Arcata / McKinleyville$181
- Santa Cruz$181
- Truckee$178
- Mill Valley / San Rafael / Novato$169
- Bakersfield / Ridgecrest$164
- Santa Rosa$163
- Sacramento$156
- Death Valley$154
- Oakland$152
- West Sacramento / Davis$148
- Antioch / Brentwood / Concord$147
- Oakhurst$137
- Stockton$137
- Fresno$136
- Visalia$136
- Point Arena / Gualala$134
- Tahoe City$132
- Barstow / Ontario / Victorville$129
All California per diem rates (FY2027)
| City | County | Lodging per night | M&IE | First/last day (75%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antioch / Brentwood / Concord | Contra Costa | All year: $147 | $86 | $64.50 |
| Bakersfield / Ridgecrest | Kern | All year: $164 | $74 | $55.50 |
| Barstow / Ontario / Victorville | San Bernardino | All year: $129 | $86 | $64.50 |
| Death Valley | Inyo / NAWS China Lake | All year: $154 | $80 | $60 |
| Eureka / Arcata / McKinleyville | Humboldt | Oct 1–May 31: $130 Jun 1–Aug 31: $181 Sep 1–Sep 30: $130 | $86 | $64.50 |
| Fresno | Fresno | All year: $136 | $86 | $64.50 |
| Los Angeles | Los Angeles / Orange / Ventura / Edwards AFB less the city of Santa Monica | All year: $199 | $86 | $64.50 |
| Mammoth Lakes | Mono | Oct 1–Nov 30: $146 Dec 1–Mar 31: $208 Apr 1–Sep 30: $146 | $86 | $64.50 |
| Mill Valley / San Rafael / Novato | Marin | All year: $169 | $92 | $69 |
| Monterey | Monterey | Oct 1–Jan 31: $196 Feb 1–Jun 30: $209 Jul 1–Aug 31: $293 Sep 1–Sep 30: $196 | $92 | $69 |
| Napa | Napa | Oct 1–Nov 30: $266 Dec 1–Mar 31: $194 Apr 1–Sep 30: $266 | $92 | $69 |
| Oakhurst | Madera | All year: $137 | $80 | $60 |
| Oakland | Alameda | All year: $152 | $92 | $69 |
| Palm Springs | Riverside | Oct 1–Jan 31: $186 Feb 1–Apr 30: $192 May 1–Sep 30: $141 | $86 | $64.50 |
| Point Arena / Gualala | Mendocino | All year: $134 | $86 | $64.50 |
| Sacramento | Sacramento | All year: $156 | $86 | $64.50 |
| San Diego | San Diego | Oct 1–May 31: $208 Jun 1–Jul 31: $249 Aug 1–Sep 30: $208 | $86 | $64.50 |
| San Francisco | San Francisco | Oct 1–Dec 31: $279 Jan 1–Mar 31: $325 Apr 1–Aug 31: $232 Sep 1–Sep 30: $279 | $92 | $69 |
| San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo | Oct 1–May 31: $170 Jun 1–Jul 31: $213 Aug 1–Sep 30: $170 | $86 | $64.50 |
| San Mateo / Foster City / Belmont | San Mateo | Oct 1–Nov 30: $217 Dec 1–Aug 31: $194 Sep 1–Sep 30: $217 | $86 | $64.50 |
| Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | Oct 1–Jun 30: $214 Jul 1–Aug 31: $277 Sep 1–Sep 30: $214 | $92 | $69 |
| Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz | Oct 1–May 31: $149 Jun 1–Aug 31: $181 Sep 1–Sep 30: $149 | $86 | $64.50 |
| Santa Monica | City limits of Santa Monica | All year: $283 | $92 | $69 |
| Santa Rosa | Sonoma | All year: $163 | $86 | $64.50 |
| South Lake Tahoe | El Dorado | Oct 1–Nov 30: $198 Dec 1–Mar 31: $262 Apr 1–May 31: $168 Jun 1–Sep 30: $198 | $86 | $64.50 |
| Stockton | San Joaquin | All year: $137 | $74 | $55.50 |
| Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose | Santa Clara | All year: $218 | $92 | $69 |
| Tahoe City | Placer | All year: $132 | $86 | $64.50 |
| Truckee | Nevada | Oct 1–Nov 30: $148 Dec 1–Feb 28: $178 Mar 1–May 31: $151 Jun 1–Sep 30: $174 | $86 | $64.50 |
| Visalia | Tulare | All year: $136 | $80 | $60 |
| West Sacramento / Davis | Yolo | All year: $148 | $80 | $60 |
| Yosemite National Park | Mariposa | Oct 1–Nov 30: $184 Dec 1–Apr 30: $212 May 1–Sep 30: $184 | $86 | $64.50 |
Anywhere in California not listed uses the standard rate: $113 lodging + $68 M&IE.
Meals and incidentals (M&IE) in California
| M&IE per day | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner | Incid. | First/last day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $68 | $16 | $19 | $28 | $5 | $51 |
| $74 | $18 | $20 | $31 | $5 | $55.50 |
| $80 | $20 | $22 | $33 | $5 | $60 |
| $86 | $22 | $23 | $36 | $5 | $64.50 |
| $92 | $23 | $26 | $38 | $5 | $69 |
Calculate your California trip
California (standard rate): 2 nights, 3 travel days
Maximum per diem for this trip
$396
Lodging
$226
Meals and incidentals (M&IE)
$170
First report free: log real expenses next to your per diem and export a PDF or Excel expense report.
Day-by-day breakdown
| Date | Lodging | M&IE | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, Nov 9, 2026 | $113 | $51 | First day, 75% M&IE |
| Tue, Nov 10, 2026 | $113 | $68 | Full day, 100% M&IE |
| Wed, Nov 11, 2026 | none | $51 | Last day, 75% M&IE |
| Total | $226 | $170 |
Lodging is the maximum nightly rate for the season that covers each night, not a flat allowance for hotel receipts. M&IE here is $68 per day at California (standard rate): breakfast $16, lunch $19, dinner $28, incidentals $5; first and last day $51.
California per diem FAQ
What is the per diem rate in California for 2026?
For fiscal year 2027 (Oct 1, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027) the standard GSA per diem in California is $113 per night for lodging plus $68 per day for meals and incidentals (M&IE), $181 per day. 32 California locations have a higher listed rate, up to $325 per night in San Francisco.
Which California city has the highest per diem?
San Francisco (San Francisco) has the highest listed lodging rate in California: $325 per night from Jan 1 to Mar 31, with $92 per day for M&IE.
How much is per diem for a 3-day trip to San Francisco?
A trip with 2 nights and 3 travel days at San Francisco, CA comes to at most $880: lodging 2 x $325 = $650 (the highest seasonal rate; other months are lower), plus M&IE of $92 for the middle day and $69 (75%) for the first and last day. Use the calculator above for exact dates.
Do private employers have to use GSA per diem rates?
No. GSA rates are written for federal travelers; many private employers use them as a benchmark, and your employer's policy decides what applies to you.
Data: GSA FY2027 per diem rates, effective Oct 1, 2026 (public domain; source gsa.gov). Last checked Sat, Oct 31, 2026. Easy Trip Expenses is not affiliated with the GSA. Results are the maximum allowance, not a guarantee of what your employer pays.