Cleveland Per Diem Rate (FY2026)
Cuyahoga · Ohio · Official U.S. GSA federal per diem
For fiscal year 2026, the GSA per diem rate for Cleveland is $80/day for meals & incidental expenses (M&IE) and $159/night for lodging, compared with the standard $178/day CONUS rate ($110 lodging + $68 M&IE).
A 4-night business trip to Cleveland in January totals $996: $636 lodging (4 nights) + $360 M&IE (5 days, first & last day at 75%).
Calculate your exact Cleveland trip
Cleveland lodging rate by month (FY2026)
Nightly lodging caps for Cleveland. M&IE is flat at $80/day and does not change by month.
| Month | Lodging / night | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | $159 | · |
| Feb | $159 | · |
| Mar | $159 | · |
| Apr | $159 | · |
| May | $159 | · |
| Jun | $159 | · |
| Jul | $159 | · |
| Aug | $159 | · |
| Sep | $159 | · |
| Oct | $159 | · |
| Nov | $159 | · |
| Dec | $159 | · |
How does Cleveland compare with other Ohio per diem areas?
Cleveland ranks #2 of 6 Ohio non-standard per diem areas by peak lodging cap, at $159/night — $20 above the state's $139/night NSA average.
The $159/night lodging cap holds flat through all 12 months of FY2026, so there is no cheaper season to target in Cleveland — trip cost depends only on length of stay and the $80/day M&IE tier.
Flexible on location? The next cheaper Ohio area is Sandusky at $144/night peak, and the next step up is Cincinnati at $163/night.
Book within the Cleveland lodging cap
Otto finds hotels in Cleveland at or under your $159/night GSA lodging cap — and books them for you.
Cleveland per diem FAQ
- What is the per diem rate for Cleveland?
- For FY2026, the GSA per diem rate for Cleveland, Ohio is $80 per day for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) and $159/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 Cleveland?
- $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 Cleveland?
- Tax-free housing and meal stipends for travel nurses are capped at the GSA per diem for the assignment location. In Cleveland the full daily cap is up to $239 (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.