Princeton / Trenton Per Diem Rate (FY2026)
Mercer · New Jersey · Official U.S. GSA federal per diem
For fiscal year 2026, the GSA per diem rate for Princeton / Trenton is $86/day for meals & incidental expenses (M&IE) and $138/night for lodging, compared with the standard $178/day CONUS rate ($110 lodging + $68 M&IE).
A 4-night business trip to Princeton / Trenton in January totals $939: $552 lodging (4 nights) + $387 M&IE (5 days, first & last day at 75%).
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Princeton / Trenton lodging rate by month (FY2026)
Nightly lodging caps for Princeton / Trenton. M&IE is flat at $86/day and does not change by month.
| Month | Lodging / night | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | $138 | · |
| Feb | $138 | · |
| Mar | $138 | · |
| Apr | $138 | · |
| May | $138 | · |
| Jun | $138 | · |
| Jul | $138 | · |
| Aug | $138 | · |
| Sep | $138 | · |
| Oct | $138 | · |
| Nov | $138 | · |
| Dec | $138 | · |
How does Princeton / Trenton compare with other New Jersey per diem areas?
Princeton / Trenton ranks #6 of 10 New Jersey non-standard per diem areas by peak lodging cap, at $138/night — $5 below the state's $143/night NSA average, a cap it shares with 1 other New Jersey area.
The $138/night lodging cap holds flat through all 12 months of FY2026, so there is no cheaper season to target in Princeton / Trenton — trip cost depends only on length of stay and the $86/day M&IE tier.
Flexible on location? The next cheaper New Jersey area is Flemington at $124/night peak, and the next step up is Springfield / Cranford / New Providence at $139/night.
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Princeton / Trenton per diem FAQ
- What is the per diem rate for Princeton / Trenton?
- For FY2026, the GSA per diem rate for Princeton / Trenton, New Jersey is $86 per day for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) and $138/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 Princeton / Trenton?
- $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.
- What is the tax-free travel nurse stipend cap in Princeton / Trenton?
- Tax-free housing and meal stipends for travel nurses are capped at the GSA per diem for the assignment location. In Princeton / Trenton the full daily cap is up to $224 (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.