San Diego Per Diem Rates 2026 (FY2027)
The FY2027 GSA per diem for San Diego, CA is $208 to $249 per night lodging (peak Jun–Jul) + $86 M&IE, $294 to $335 per day.
Effective Thu, Oct 1, 2026 to Thu, Sep 30, 2027. Covers San Diego.
$208–$249
Lodging per night
peak Jun–Jul
$86
M&IE per day
$64.50 on first/last day
$335
Max total per day
$249 + $86, peak season
+85%
Peak vs standard rate
standard $113 + $68 = $181
Lodging by season in San Diego
Standard rate: $113/night (cities without their own listing)
- Oct 1–May 31$208
- Jun 1–Jul 31$249
- Aug 1–Sep 30$208
Cheapest: $208 (Oct–May and Aug–Sep). Peak: $249 (Jun–Jul), $41 more per night.
Meals and incidentals in San Diego: $86 a day
Breakfast
$22
Lunch
$23
Dinner
$36
Incidentals
$5
First/last day (75%)
$64.50
Example: Monday to Thursday in San Diego
Mon, Feb 1, 2027 to Thu, Feb 4, 2027, 3 nights in the Oct 1–May 31 season ($208/night). Maximum allowance.
Lodging
$624
3 x $208
Meals and incidentals
$301
2 x $64.50 + 2 x $86 = $129 + $172
Total
$925
$624 + $301
Calculate your San Diego trip
San Diego, CA: 2 nights, 3 travel days
Maximum per diem for this trip
$631
Lodging
$416
Meals and incidentals (M&IE)
$215
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 | $208 | $64.50 | First day, 75% M&IE |
| Tue, Nov 10, 2026 | $208 | $86 | Full day, 100% M&IE |
| Wed, Nov 11, 2026 | none | $64.50 | Last day, 75% M&IE |
| Total | $416 | $215 |
Lodging is the maximum nightly rate for the season that covers each night, not a flat allowance for hotel receipts. M&IE here is $86 per day at San Diego, CA: breakfast $22, lunch $23, dinner $36, incidentals $5; first and last day $64.50.
Turn this into a trip report
Log expenses and receipts during your San Diego trip and export a PDF and Excel report. Tracking is free and your first trip report is free; after that $3.99 per trip or $19 a year for unlimited reports.
San Diego per diem FAQ
What is the per diem rate in San Diego for 2026?
The FY2027 GSA per diem for San Diego, CA is $208 to $249 per night lodging (peak Jun–Jul) + $86 M&IE, $294 to $335 per day. Fiscal year 2027 runs from Oct 1, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027. The standard rate for places without their own listing is $113 lodging + $68 M&IE.
How is per diem calculated on the first and last day in San Diego?
M&IE is paid at 75% on the first and last day of travel: $64.50 instead of $86 at the San Diego rate. Full days in between get $86. Lodging is paid per night at the rate of that night's season.
Which counties does the San Diego per diem rate cover?
The San Diego rate applies to the area GSA lists as San Diego. Trips elsewhere in California use the standard rate unless that place has its own listing.
Does the San Diego per diem change by season?
Yes. Lodging is $208 per night in Oct–May and Aug–Sep and $249 per night in Jun–Jul. All 3 seasons: Oct 1–May 31 $208; Jun 1–Jul 31 $249; Aug 1–Sep 30 $208. M&IE stays $86 per day all year.
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.