Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose Per Diem Rate (FY2026)
Santa Clara · California · Official U.S. GSA federal per diem
For fiscal year 2026, the GSA per diem rate for Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose is $92/day for meals & incidental expenses (M&IE) and $192/night for lodging, compared with the standard $178/day CONUS rate ($110 lodging + $68 M&IE).
A 4-night business trip to Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose in January totals $1,182: $768 lodging (4 nights) + $414 M&IE (5 days, first & last day at 75%).
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Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose lodging rate by month (FY2026)
Nightly lodging caps for Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose. M&IE is flat at $92/day and does not change by month.
| Month | Lodging / night | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | $192 | · |
| Feb | $192 | · |
| Mar | $192 | · |
| Apr | $192 | · |
| May | $192 | · |
| Jun | $192 | · |
| Jul | $192 | · |
| Aug | $192 | · |
| Sep | $192 | · |
| Oct | $192 | · |
| Nov | $192 | · |
| Dec | $192 | · |
How does Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose compare with other California per diem areas?
Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose ranks #11 of 32 California non-standard per diem areas by peak lodging cap, at $192/night — $11 above the state's $181/night NSA average.
The $192/night lodging cap holds flat through all 12 months of FY2026, so there is no cheaper season to target in Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose — trip cost depends only on length of stay and the $92/day M&IE tier.
Flexible on location? The next cheaper California area is Los Angeles at $191/night peak, and the next step up is Mammoth Lakes at $195/night.
Book within the Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose lodging cap
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Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose per diem FAQ
- What is the per diem rate for Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose?
- For FY2026, the GSA per diem rate for Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose, California is $92 per day for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) and $192/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 Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose?
- $92 per day for FY2026: $23 breakfast, $26 lunch, $38 dinner and $5 incidentals. The first and last day of travel reimburse at 75%, or $69.
- What is the tax-free travel nurse stipend cap in Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose?
- Tax-free housing and meal stipends for travel nurses are capped at the GSA per diem for the assignment location. In Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose the full daily cap is up to $284 (peak-month lodging + $92 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.