Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose Per Diem Rates 2026 (FY2027)
The FY2027 GSA per diem for Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose, CA is $218 per night lodging + $92 M&IE ($310 per day), all year.
Effective Thu, Oct 1, 2026 to Thu, Sep 30, 2027. Covers Santa Clara.
$218
Lodging per night
all year
$92
M&IE per day
$69 on first/last day
$310
Total per day
$218 + $92
+71%
vs standard rate
standard $113 + $68 = $181
Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose lodging vs the standard rate
Standard rate: $113/night (cities without their own listing)
- All year$218
- Standard$113
Meals and incidentals in Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose: $92 a day
Breakfast
$23
Lunch
$26
Dinner
$38
Incidentals
$5
First/last day (75%)
$69
Example: Monday to Thursday in Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose
Mon, Apr 5, 2027 to Thu, Apr 8, 2027, 3 nights. Maximum allowance.
Lodging
$654
3 x $218
Meals and incidentals
$322
2 x $69 + 2 x $92 = $138 + $184
Total
$976
$654 + $322
Calculate your Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose trip
Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose, CA: 2 nights, 3 travel days
Maximum per diem for this trip
$666
Lodging
$436
Meals and incidentals (M&IE)
$230
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 | $218 | $69 | First day, 75% M&IE |
| Tue, Nov 10, 2026 | $218 | $92 | Full day, 100% M&IE |
| Wed, Nov 11, 2026 | none | $69 | Last day, 75% M&IE |
| Total | $436 | $230 |
Lodging is the maximum nightly rate for the season that covers each night, not a flat allowance for hotel receipts. M&IE here is $92 per day at Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose, CA: breakfast $23, lunch $26, dinner $38, incidentals $5; first and last day $69.
Turn this into a trip report
Log expenses and receipts during your Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose 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.
Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose per diem FAQ
What is the per diem rate in Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose for 2026?
The FY2027 GSA per diem for Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose, CA is $218 per night lodging + $92 M&IE ($310 per day), all year. 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 Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose?
M&IE is paid at 75% on the first and last day of travel: $69 instead of $92 at the Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose rate. Full days in between get $92. Lodging is paid per night at the rate of that night's season.
Which counties does the Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose per diem rate cover?
The Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose rate applies to the area GSA lists as Santa Clara. Trips elsewhere in California use the standard rate unless that place has its own listing.
Does the Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose per diem change by season?
No. Lodging is $218 per night all year in Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose, and M&IE is $92 per day.
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.