St. Louis Per Diem Rate (FY2026)
St. Louis / St. Louis City / St. Charles · Missouri · Official U.S. GSA federal per diem
For fiscal year 2026, the GSA per diem rate for St. Louis is $86/day for meals & incidental expenses (M&IE) and $150/night for lodging, compared with the standard $178/day CONUS rate ($110 lodging + $68 M&IE).
A 4-night business trip to St. Louis in January totals $987: $600 lodging (4 nights) + $387 M&IE (5 days, first & last day at 75%).
Calculate your exact St. Louis trip
St. Louis lodging rate by month (FY2026)
Nightly lodging caps for St. Louis. M&IE is flat at $86/day and does not change by month.
| Month | Lodging / night | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | $150 | · |
| Feb | $150 | · |
| Mar | $150 | · |
| Apr | $150 | · |
| May | $150 | · |
| Jun | $150 | · |
| Jul | $150 | · |
| Aug | $150 | · |
| Sep | $150 | · |
| Oct | $150 | · |
| Nov | $150 | · |
| Dec | $150 | · |
How does St. Louis compare with other Missouri per diem areas?
St. Louis is the most expensive per diem area in Missouri for FY2026: its $150/night peak lodging cap tops the state's 2 non-standard areas, $7 above the state's $143/night NSA average.
The $150/night lodging cap holds flat through all 12 months of FY2026, so there is no cheaper season to target in St. Louis — trip cost depends only on length of stay and the $86/day M&IE tier.
The next cheaper Missouri area is Kansas City at $135/night peak; every unlisted Missouri location falls back to the $110 standard rate.
Book within the St. Louis lodging cap
Otto finds hotels in St. Louis at or under your $150/night GSA lodging cap — and books them for you.
St. Louis per diem FAQ
- What is the per diem rate for St. Louis?
- For FY2026, the GSA per diem rate for St. Louis, Missouri is $86 per day for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) and $150/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 St. Louis?
- $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.
- Is St. Louis the most expensive per diem area in Missouri?
- Yes. By peak lodging cap, St. Louis tops the 2 non-standard areas GSA lists in Missouri for FY2026 at $150/night — $40 above the $110 standard cap. Its full daily rate reaches $236 with M&IE included.
- What is the tax-free travel nurse stipend cap in St. Louis?
- Tax-free housing and meal stipends for travel nurses are capped at the GSA per diem for the assignment location. In St. Louis the full daily cap is up to $236 (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.