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San Diego per diem rates

The FY2027 GSA rates for San Diego, from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027: a lodging cap of US$208 to US$249 a night depending on the dates, and US$86 a day for meals and incidental expenses.

Guests checking in at a hotel reception

San Diego per diem for FY2027

  • Lodging, per nightUS$208 to US$249
  • Meals and incidentals, per dayUS$86
  • First and last day, mealsUS$64.50

San Diego per diem, FY2027

Lodging is capped per night at the rate for that night's date. Meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) are a flat amount per day. The daily maximum is the two together.

DatesLodging per nightM&IE per dayDaily maximum
1 Oct to 31 May 2027US$208US$86US$294
1 Jun to 31 Jul 2027US$249US$86US$335
1 Aug to 30 Sept 2027US$208US$86US$294

US$86 M&IE, by meal

BreakfastUS$22
LunchUS$23
DinnerUS$36
Incidental expensesUS$5
First and last day (75%)US$64.50

Example: three nights at the peak rate

A trip during 1 Jun to 31 Jul 2027, when lodging is capped at US$249 a night. Two full days in between and two travel days.

3 nights × US$249US$747
2 full days × US$86US$172
2 travel days × US$64.50US$129
Maximum for the tripUS$1,048

San Diego per diem, FY2026

October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026. Use these for travel in that period, even when the claim is paid later.

DatesLodging per nightM&IE per dayDaily maximum
1 Oct to 31 May 2026US$199US$86US$285
1 Jun to 31 Jul 2026US$237US$86US$323
1 Aug to 30 Sept 2026US$199US$86US$285

San Diego and the IRS high-low method

San Diego is a high-cost locality all year under IRS Notice 2026-60. An employer using the high-low method instead of the GSA rate can pay up to US$329 a day there, of which US$86 counts as meals.

Per diem rates in other cities

Frequently asked questions

For FY2027, from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027: lodging up to US$208 to US$249 a night depending on the dates, and US$86 a day for meals and incidental expenses.

GSA lists it as: San Diego. A destination outside that area takes its own county's rate, or the standard rate of US$113 for lodging and US$68 for M&IE.

75% of the M&IE rate, US$64.50 in San Diego. Lodging is paid for each night at the rate for that night's date.

The highest lodging rate is US$249 in FY2027 against US$237 in FY2026, and M&IE is US$86 against US$86. The full FY2026 table is on this page.

Not up to these rates, when the employee records the dates, place and business purpose of the trip under an accountable plan. Any amount above the federal rate is taxable wages.

Where these numbers come from

Lodging and M&IE are copied from GSA's FY2027 and FY2026 per diem files. The high-low status is from IRS Notice 2026-60.

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Travel claims coded before you're home

Smartbills keeps the per diem, the bookings and the card charges from a trip together. The claim is already coded by the time the traveller gets back.

See expense management