Rochester Per Diem Rate (FY2026)
Olmsted · Minnesota · Official U.S. GSA federal per diem
For fiscal year 2026, the GSA per diem rate for Rochester is $80/day for meals & incidental expenses (M&IE) and $127/night for lodging, compared with the standard $178/day CONUS rate ($110 lodging + $68 M&IE).
A 4-night business trip to Rochester in January totals $868: $508 lodging (4 nights) + $360 M&IE (5 days, first & last day at 75%).
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Rochester lodging rate by month (FY2026)
Nightly lodging caps for Rochester. M&IE is flat at $80/day and does not change by month.
| Month | Lodging / night | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | $127 | · |
| Feb | $127 | · |
| Mar | $127 | · |
| Apr | $127 | · |
| May | $127 | · |
| Jun | $127 | · |
| Jul | $127 | · |
| Aug | $127 | · |
| Sep | $127 | · |
| Oct | $127 | · |
| Nov | $127 | · |
| Dec | $127 | · |
How does Rochester compare with other Minnesota per diem areas?
Rochester has the lowest peak lodging cap of the 3 non-standard per diem areas in Minnesota — $127/night, $38 below the state's $165/night NSA average, yet still $17 above the $110 standard rate.
The $127/night lodging cap holds flat through all 12 months of FY2026, so there is no cheaper season to target in Rochester — trip cost depends only on length of stay and the $80/day M&IE tier.
Below Rochester, every unlisted Minnesota location falls back to the $110 standard rate; the next step up in-state is Minneapolis / St. Paul at $148/night.
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Rochester per diem FAQ
- What is the per diem rate for Rochester?
- For FY2026, the GSA per diem rate for Rochester, Minnesota is $80 per day for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) and $127/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 Rochester?
- $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 Rochester?
- Tax-free housing and meal stipends for travel nurses are capped at the GSA per diem for the assignment location. In Rochester the full daily cap is up to $207 (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.