Des Moines Per Diem Rate (FY2026)
Polk · Iowa · Official U.S. GSA federal per diem
For fiscal year 2026, the GSA per diem rate for Des Moines is $80/day for meals & incidental expenses (M&IE) and $121/night for lodging, compared with the standard $178/day CONUS rate ($110 lodging + $68 M&IE).
M&IE / day
$80
Flat all year
Lodging low
$121
Flat all year
Lodging peak
$121
Flat all year
Full daily (peak)
$201
Lodging + M&IE
Example trip
A 4-night business trip to Des Moines in January totals $844 — $484 lodging (4 nights) + $360 M&IE (5 days, first & last day at 75%).
Calculate your exact Des Moines trip
Loading calculator…
Des Moines lodging rate by month (FY2026)
Nightly lodging caps for Des Moines. M&IE is flat at $80/day and does not change by month.
| Month | Lodging / night | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | $121 | · |
| Feb | $121 | · |
| Mar | $121 | · |
| Apr | $121 | · |
| May | $121 | · |
| Jun | $121 | · |
| Jul | $121 | · |
| Aug | $121 | · |
| Sep | $121 | · |
| Oct | $121 | · |
| Nov | $121 | · |
| Dec | $121 | · |
Des Moines per diem FAQ
- What is the per diem rate for Des Moines?
- For FY2026, the GSA per diem rate for Des Moines, Iowa is $80 per day for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) and $121/night for lodging. The standard CONUS rate, for comparison, is $178 per day ($110 lodging + $68 M&IE).
- What is the tax-free travel nurse stipend cap in Des Moines?
- Tax-free housing and meal stipends for travel nurses are capped at the GSA per diem for the assignment location. In Des Moines the full daily cap is up to $201 (peak-month lodging + $80 M&IE). A stipend at or below the GSA rate is tax-free; anything above is taxable wages.