U.S. · Federal travel FY2027
California per diem FY2027.
GSA lodging and meals rates for every California destination, October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027.
The standard FY2027 federal per diem applies to any California location not listed: $113 lodging plus $68 M&IE. 32 California destinations have higher rates, from $129 a night in Barstow / Ontario / Victorville to a peak of $325 a night in San Francisco (January 1 to March 31), with M&IE of $74 to $92. Los Angeles is $199 a night with $86 M&IE.
Find a county
Searches the California table below. A place that is not listed gets $113 lodging and $68 M&IE.
How California per diem works for FY2027
GSA sets a maximum nightly lodging rate and a daily meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) allowance for the 48 contiguous states and DC. California has 32 non-standard destinations in the FY2027 file, each tied to one or more counties. Any California county not listed, and any city that is not inside a listed county, gets the standard rate of $113 lodging and $68 M&IE. The rates run from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027.
Of the 32 destinations, 18 have one flat lodging rate all year and 14 change by season. M&IE is one of five tiers: $74 (2 destinations), $80 (4 destinations), $86 (18 destinations), $92 (8 destinations).
The ten highest lodging rates in California
| Destination | Covers | Peak nightly lodging | Lowest nightly lodging | M&IE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | San Francisco | $325 | $232 | $92 |
| Monterey | Monterey | $293 | $196 | $92 |
| Santa Monica | City limits of Santa Monica | $283 | $283 | $92 |
| Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | $277 | $214 | $92 |
| Napa | Napa | $266 | $194 | $92 |
| South Lake Tahoe | El Dorado | $262 | $168 | $86 |
| San Diego | San Diego | $249 | $208 | $86 |
| Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose | Santa Clara | $218 | $218 | $92 |
| San Mateo / Foster City / Belmont | San Mateo | $217 | $194 | $86 |
| San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo | $213 | $170 | $86 |
M&IE tiers and first and last day of travel
On the first and last day of a trip, M&IE is paid at 75 percent. GSA lists the amounts for each tier:
| M&IE tier | First and last day | Destinations in California |
|---|---|---|
| $68 | $51.00 | 0 |
| $74 | $55.50 | 2 |
| $80 | $60.00 | 4 |
| $86 | $64.50 | 18 |
| $92 | $69.00 | 8 |
Worked example
A 3-night federal trip to San Francisco in February 2027. San Francisco lodging is $325 a night from January 1 to March 31 and M&IE is $92. Lodging is reimbursed at actual cost up to $325 a night, so up to $975 for three nights. M&IE is $69 on the first day, $92 on each of the two full days and $69 on the last day: $69 + $92 + $92 + $69 = $322. The same trip in the standard-rate county next door would cap lodging at $113 a night.
The lowest listed lodging rate in California is $129 in Barstow / Ontario / Victorville. Mammoth Lakes, Napa, Monterey and Santa Barbara swing by $60 to $100 a night between seasons, so check the dates of travel against the season in the table.
All 32 California destinations, FY2027
Search by city or county. Seasonal destinations list each date range.
| Destination | Covers | Lodging per night | M&IE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antioch / Brentwood / Concord | Contra Costa | $147 | $86 |
| Bakersfield / Ridgecrest | Kern | $164 | $74 |
| Barstow / Ontario / Victorville | San Bernardino | $129 | $86 |
| Death Valley | Inyo / NAWS China Lake | $154 | $80 |
| Eureka / Arcata / McKinleyville | Humboldt | Oct 1 to May 31: $130 Jun 1 to Aug 31: $181 Sep 1 to Sep 30: $130 | $86 |
| Fresno | Fresno | $136 | $86 |
| Los Angeles | Los Angeles / Orange / Ventura / Edwards AFB less the city of Santa Monica | $199 | $86 |
| Mammoth Lakes | Mono | Oct 1 to Nov 30: $146 Dec 1 to Mar 31: $208 Apr 1 to Sep 30: $146 | $86 |
| Mill Valley / San Rafael / Novato | Marin | $169 | $92 |
| Monterey | Monterey | Oct 1 to Jan 31: $196 Feb 1 to Jun 30: $209 Jul 1 to Aug 31: $293 Sep 1 to Sep 30: $196 | $92 |
| Napa | Napa | Oct 1 to Nov 30: $266 Dec 1 to Mar 31: $194 Apr 1 to Sep 30: $266 | $92 |
| Oakhurst | Madera | $137 | $80 |
| Oakland | Alameda | $152 | $92 |
| Palm Springs | Riverside | Oct 1 to Jan 31: $186 Feb 1 to Apr 30: $192 May 1 to Sep 30: $141 | $86 |
| Point Arena / Gualala | Mendocino | $134 | $86 |
| Sacramento | Sacramento | $156 | $86 |
| San Diego | San Diego | Oct 1 to May 31: $208 Jun 1 to Jul 31: $249 Aug 1 to Sep 30: $208 | $86 |
| San Francisco | San Francisco | Oct 1 to Dec 31: $279 Jan 1 to Mar 31: $325 Apr 1 to Aug 31: $232 Sep 1 to Sep 30: $279 | $92 |
| San Luis Obispo | San Luis Obispo | Oct 1 to May 31: $170 Jun 1 to Jul 31: $213 Aug 1 to Sep 30: $170 | $86 |
| San Mateo / Foster City / Belmont | San Mateo | Oct 1 to Nov 30: $217 Dec 1 to Aug 31: $194 Sep 1 to Sep 30: $217 | $86 |
| Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | Oct 1 to Jun 30: $214 Jul 1 to Aug 31: $277 Sep 1 to Sep 30: $214 | $92 |
| Santa Cruz | Santa Cruz | Oct 1 to May 31: $149 Jun 1 to Aug 31: $181 Sep 1 to Sep 30: $149 | $86 |
| Santa Monica | City limits of Santa Monica | $283 | $92 |
| Santa Rosa | Sonoma | $163 | $86 |
| South Lake Tahoe | El Dorado | Oct 1 to Nov 30: $198 Dec 1 to Mar 31: $262 Apr 1 to May 31: $168 Jun 1 to Sep 30: $198 | $86 |
| Stockton | San Joaquin | $137 | $74 |
| Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose | Santa Clara | $218 | $92 |
| Tahoe City | Placer | $132 | $86 |
| Truckee | Nevada | Oct 1 to Nov 30: $148 Dec 1 to Feb 28: $178 Mar 1 to May 31: $151 Jun 1 to Sep 30: $174 | $86 |
| Visalia | Tulare | $136 | $80 |
| West Sacramento / Davis | Yolo | $148 | $80 |
| Yosemite National Park | Mariposa | Oct 1 to Nov 30: $184 Dec 1 to Apr 30: $212 May 1 to Sep 30: $184 | $86 |
Sources
Primary sources opened and checked on November 2, 2026. Figures are as published by the source on that date.
- GSA, Per diem rates (read November 2, 2026)
- GSA, FY2027 per diem rates file (validated 09/01/26) (read November 2, 2026)
- GSA, M&IE breakdowns (read November 2, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What is the per diem rate for California in FY2027?
It depends on the city or county. California has 32 non-standard destinations with lodging from $129 to $325 a night. A California location that is not listed gets the standard $113 lodging and $68 M&IE.
Which California city has the highest per diem?
San Francisco at $325 a night for lodging from January 1 to March 31, 2027, with $92 for M&IE.
What is the per diem for Los Angeles in FY2027?
$199 a night for lodging and $86 for M&IE, covering Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties and Edwards AFB, but not the city of Santa Monica, which is listed separately.
When do FY2027 per diem rates take effect?
October 1, 2026, and they run through September 30, 2027.
Are Hawaii and Alaska in this table?
No. GSA's FY2027 file covers the contiguous states and DC, and Hawaii and Alaska rates are not in it.
Reference data, not travel advice
Figures are copied from the GSA FY2027 per diem rates file linked above. Your agency or employer may apply different rules, and actual expense reimbursement is possible when per diem is not enough. Confirm a rate on the GSA site before you file a voucher.