The General Services Administration issued its annual updated list of federal maximum per diem rates for travel to locations within the continental United States (CONUS). The new rates are effective for travel undertaken on or after October 1, 2026.
The standard CONUS meal and incidental expense (M&IE) rate will remain $68. The M&IE rates for non-standard areas (NSAs) also will not change and remain $68, $74, $80, $86, and $92.
For all locations within CONUS not shown on the list, the lodging per diem will increase to $113 (from $110), the M&IE rate will remain $68, and the combined maximum standard per diem rate will increase to $181 (from $178).
NSA Locations
For fiscal year 2027, there are 295 NSAs. The combined per diem rates for the listed NSA locations range from a low of $181 (off-season) for several locations to a high of $591 (peak season) for Park City, Utah. Allentown, Pa., was an NSA in fiscal year 2026 and has been moved into the standard CONUS rate category.
To learn more about federal and state laws, regulations, and information to keep your company's payroll operations in compliance, check out Payroll Source Plus!
Rayna Alexander, Esq., is Editor of Payroll Information Resources for PayrollOrg.
