Los Angeles Per Diem Rate (FY2026)
Los Angeles / Orange / Ventura / Edwards AFB less the city of Santa Monica · California · Official U.S. GSA federal per diem
For fiscal year 2026, the GSA per diem rate for Los Angeles is $86/day for meals & incidental expenses (M&IE) and $191/night for lodging, compared with the standard $178/day CONUS rate ($110 lodging + $68 M&IE).
A 4-night business trip to Los Angeles in January totals $1,151: $764 lodging (4 nights) + $387 M&IE (5 days, first & last day at 75%).
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Los Angeles lodging rate by month (FY2026)
Nightly lodging caps for Los Angeles. M&IE is flat at $86/day and does not change by month.
| Month | Lodging / night | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | $191 | · |
| Feb | $191 | · |
| Mar | $191 | · |
| Apr | $191 | · |
| May | $191 | · |
| Jun | $191 | · |
| Jul | $191 | · |
| Aug | $191 | · |
| Sep | $191 | · |
| Oct | $191 | · |
| Nov | $191 | · |
| Dec | $191 | · |
How does Los Angeles compare with other California per diem areas?
Los Angeles ranks #12 of 32 California non-standard per diem areas by peak lodging cap, at $191/night — $10 above the state's $181/night NSA average.
The $191/night lodging cap holds flat through all 12 months of FY2026, so there is no cheaper season to target in Los Angeles — trip cost depends only on length of stay and the $86/day M&IE tier.
Flexible on location? The next cheaper California area is Palm Springs at $186/night peak, and the next step up is Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose at $192/night.
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Los Angeles per diem FAQ
- What is the per diem rate for Los Angeles?
- For FY2026, the GSA per diem rate for Los Angeles, California is $86 per day for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) and $191/night for lodging. The standard CONUS rate, for comparison, is $178 per day ($110 lodging + $68 M&IE).
- What is the meal reimbursement (M&IE) rate in Los Angeles?
- $86 per day for FY2026: $22 breakfast, $23 lunch, $36 dinner and $5 incidentals. The first and last day of travel reimburse at 75%, or $64.50.
- What is the tax-free travel nurse stipend cap in Los Angeles?
- Tax-free housing and meal stipends for travel nurses are capped at the GSA per diem for the assignment location. In Los Angeles the full daily cap is up to $277 (peak-month lodging + $86 M&IE). The portion above the GSA rate is taxable wages, and the stipend is only tax-free at all if you maintain a qualifying tax home.