Indianapolis / Carmel Per Diem Rate (FY2026)
Marion / Hamilton · Indiana · Official U.S. GSA federal per diem
For fiscal year 2026, the GSA per diem rate for Indianapolis / Carmel is $80/day for meals & incidental expenses (M&IE) and $133/night for lodging, compared with the standard $178/day CONUS rate ($110 lodging + $68 M&IE).
A 4-night business trip to Indianapolis / Carmel in January totals $892: $532 lodging (4 nights) + $360 M&IE (5 days, first & last day at 75%).
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Indianapolis / Carmel lodging rate by month (FY2026)
Nightly lodging caps for Indianapolis / Carmel. M&IE is flat at $80/day and does not change by month.
| Month | Lodging / night | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | $133 | · |
| Feb | $133 | · |
| Mar | $133 | · |
| Apr | $133 | · |
| May | $133 | · |
| Jun | $133 | · |
| Jul | $133 | · |
| Aug | $133 | · |
| Sep | $133 | · |
| Oct | $133 | · |
| Nov | $133 | · |
| Dec | $133 | · |
How does Indianapolis / Carmel compare with other Indiana per diem areas?
Indianapolis / Carmel has the lowest peak lodging cap of the 3 non-standard per diem areas in Indiana — $133/night, $5 below the state's $138/night NSA average, yet still $23 above the $110 standard rate.
The $133/night lodging cap holds flat through all 12 months of FY2026, so there is no cheaper season to target in Indianapolis / Carmel — trip cost depends only on length of stay and the $80/day M&IE tier.
Below Indianapolis / Carmel, every unlisted Indiana location falls back to the $110 standard rate; the next step up in-state is Bloomington at $139/night.
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Indianapolis / Carmel per diem FAQ
- What is the per diem rate for Indianapolis / Carmel?
- For FY2026, the GSA per diem rate for Indianapolis / Carmel, Indiana is $80 per day for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) and $133/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 Indianapolis / Carmel?
- $80 per day for FY2026: $20 breakfast, $22 lunch, $33 dinner and $5 incidentals. The first and last day of travel reimburse at 75%, or $60.
- What is the tax-free travel nurse stipend cap in Indianapolis / Carmel?
- Tax-free housing and meal stipends for travel nurses are capped at the GSA per diem for the assignment location. In Indianapolis / Carmel the full daily cap is up to $213 (peak-month lodging + $80 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.