Santa Monica, California Per Diem Rates, FY2027 (2026-27)
GSA sets per diem for the Santa Monica locality (City limits of Santa Monica) at $283 a night for lodging all year, and $92 a day for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE). These rates run from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration, read 2026-10-15. Lodging excludes taxes.
Lodging
$283/night
M&IE
$92/day
First and last day: $69.00
Full week (lodging + M&IE)
$2,625
Santa Monica lodging is the same all year
GSA holds Santa Monica at $283 a night in every month of FY2027, so the travel month does not change the lodging ceiling.
| Months (FY2027) | Lodging / night | Lodging + M&IE / week |
|---|---|---|
| Oct–Sep | $283 | $2,625 |
Santa Monica Per Diem for Calendar 2026, Month by Month
GSA rates run by federal fiscal year, so calendar 2026 uses two sets of rates: January–September fall in FY2026, and October–December fall in FY2027. Peak lodging went from $273 to $283 a night (up $10), and M&IE stayed at $92 a day.
| Month (2026) | Fiscal year | Lodging / night | M&IE / day | Total / week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | FY2026 | $273 | $92 | $2,555 |
| Feb | FY2026 | $273 | $92 | $2,555 |
| Mar | FY2026 | $273 | $92 | $2,555 |
| Apr | FY2026 | $273 | $92 | $2,555 |
| May | FY2026 | $273 | $92 | $2,555 |
| Jun | FY2026 | $273 | $92 | $2,555 |
| Jul | FY2026 | $273 | $92 | $2,555 |
| Aug | FY2026 | $273 | $92 | $2,555 |
| Sep | FY2026 | $273 | $92 | $2,555 |
| Oct | FY2027 | $283 | $92 | $2,625 |
| Nov | FY2027 | $283 | $92 | $2,625 |
| Dec | FY2027 | $283 | $92 | $2,625 |
A trip or contract that runs across 1 October is covered by both years: each night is capped by the rate for the month it falls in. Total / week is (lodging + M&IE) × 7.
Example: a 5-day trip
Five days and four nights in Santa Monica during Oct–Sep:
- Lodging: 4 nights × $283 = $1,132
- M&IE: 3 full days × $92 + 2 travel days × $69.00 = $414.00
- Maximum per diem: $1,546.00
Lodging is reimbursed up to the rate for actual cost; M&IE is a flat allowance. Your employer's policy may differ.
Calculate your own datesHow Santa Monica compares
The CONUS standard rate, used anywhere in California outside a named locality, is $113 a night plus $68 M&IE. Santa Monica peaks $170 a night higher.
Other California localities: Santa Rosa ($163), South Lake Tahoe ($262), Stockton ($137), Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose ($218), Tahoe City ($132), Truckee ($178), Visalia ($136), West Sacramento / Davis ($148). All California rates.
For travel nurses on assignment in Santa Monica
An agency can pay housing and meal stipends tax-free up to $2,625 a week here at the peak, and only if you keep a qualifying tax home. Check an offer with the stipend calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Santa Monica per diem rate for 2026-27?
For fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027), GSA sets Santa Monica, California at $283 a night for lodging all year, and $92 a day for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE). The locality covers City limits of Santa Monica.
What is the first and last day M&IE in Santa Monica?
$69.00, which is 75% of the $92 full-day rate, per GSA's M&IE breakdown.
Is Santa Monica per diem higher than the standard rate?
Yes. At its peak, Santa Monica lodging is $170 a night above the $113 CONUS standard rate, and M&IE is $92 against the standard $68.
What was the Santa Monica per diem in 2026?
Calendar 2026 spans two GSA fiscal years. January to September 2026 used FY2026 rates: lodging $273 a night and M&IE $92 a day. October to December 2026 use FY2027 rates: lodging $283 a night and M&IE $92 a day.