San Diego per diem rates
The FY2027 GSA rates for San Diego, from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027: a lodging cap of $208 to $249 a night depending on the dates, and $86 a day for meals and incidental expenses.
San Diego per diem for FY2027
- Lodging, per night$208 to $249
- Meals and incidentals, per day$86
- First and last day, meals$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.
| Dates | Lodging per night | M&IE per day | Daily maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 to May 31, 2027 | $208 | $86 | $294 |
| Jun 1 to Jul 31, 2027 | $249 | $86 | $335 |
| Aug 1 to Sep 30, 2027 | $208 | $86 | $294 |
$86 M&IE, by meal
Example: three nights at the peak rate
A trip during Jun 1 to Jul 31, 2027, when lodging is capped at $249 a night. Two full days in between and two travel days.
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.
| Dates | Lodging per night | M&IE per day | Daily maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 to May 31, 2026 | $199 | $86 | $285 |
| Jun 1 to Jul 31, 2026 | $237 | $86 | $323 |
| Aug 1 to Sep 30, 2026 | $199 | $86 | $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 $329 a day there, of which $86 counts as meals.
Frequently asked questions
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.