Tucson Per Diem Rate (FY2026)
Pima · Arizona · Official U.S. GSA federal per diem
For fiscal year 2026, the GSA per diem rate for Tucson is $80/day for meals & incidental expenses (M&IE) and $123–$171/night for lodging depending on the month, compared with the standard $178/day CONUS rate ($110 lodging + $68 M&IE). Lodging peaks in January and is lowest in April.
M&IE / day
$80
Flat all year
Lodging low
$123
April
Lodging peak
$171
January
Full daily (peak)
$251
Lodging + M&IE
Example trip
A 4-night business trip to Tucson in January totals $1,044 — $684 lodging (4 nights) + $360 M&IE (5 days, first & last day at 75%).
Calculate your exact Tucson trip
Loading calculator…
Tucson lodging rate by month (FY2026)
Nightly lodging caps for Tucson. M&IE is flat at $80/day and does not change by month.
| Month | Lodging / night | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | $171 | Peak |
| Feb | $171 | Peak |
| Mar | $171 | Peak |
| Apr | $123 | Low |
| May | $123 | Low |
| Jun | $123 | Low |
| Jul | $123 | Low |
| Aug | $123 | Low |
| Sep | $123 | Low |
| Oct | $123 | Low |
| Nov | $123 | Low |
| Dec | $123 | Low |
Tucson per diem FAQ
- What is the per diem rate for Tucson?
- For FY2026, the GSA per diem rate for Tucson, Arizona is $80 per day for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) and $123–$171/night for lodging depending on the month. The standard CONUS rate, for comparison, is $178 per day ($110 lodging + $68 M&IE).
- Why does lodging per diem in Tucson change by month?
- GSA sets seasonal lodging caps for high-demand areas. In Tucson, lodging is highest in January at $171/night and lowest in April at $123/night. M&IE stays flat at $80/day all year.
- What is the tax-free travel nurse stipend cap in Tucson?
- Tax-free housing and meal stipends for travel nurses are capped at the GSA per diem for the assignment location. In Tucson the full daily cap is up to $251 (peak-month lodging + $80 M&IE). A stipend at or below the GSA rate is tax-free; anything above is taxable wages.