Charleston Per Diem Rate (FY2026)
Charleston / Berkeley / Dorchester · South Carolina · Official U.S. GSA federal per diem
For fiscal year 2026, the GSA per diem rate for Charleston is $92/day for meals & incidental expenses (M&IE) and $218–$288/night for lodging depending on the month, compared with the standard $178/day CONUS rate ($110 lodging + $68 M&IE). Lodging peaks in March and is lowest in January.
M&IE / day
$92
Flat all year
Lodging low
$218
January
Lodging peak
$288
March
Full daily (peak)
$380
Lodging + M&IE
Example trip
A 4-night business trip to Charleston in March totals $1,566 — $1,152 lodging (4 nights) + $414 M&IE (5 days, first & last day at 75%).
Calculate your exact Charleston trip
Loading calculator…
Charleston lodging rate by month (FY2026)
Nightly lodging caps for Charleston. M&IE is flat at $92/day and does not change by month.
| Month | Lodging / night | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | $218 | Low |
| Feb | $218 | Low |
| Mar | $288 | Peak |
| Apr | $288 | Peak |
| May | $288 | Peak |
| Jun | $244 | · |
| Jul | $244 | · |
| Aug | $244 | · |
| Sep | $244 | · |
| Oct | $244 | · |
| Nov | $218 | Low |
| Dec | $218 | Low |
Charleston per diem FAQ
- What is the per diem rate for Charleston?
- For FY2026, the GSA per diem rate for Charleston, South Carolina is $92 per day for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) and $218–$288/night for lodging depending on the month. The standard CONUS rate, for comparison, is $178 per day ($110 lodging + $68 M&IE).
- Why does lodging per diem in Charleston change by month?
- GSA sets seasonal lodging caps for high-demand areas. In Charleston, lodging is highest in March at $288/night and lowest in January at $218/night. M&IE stays flat at $92/day all year.
- What is the tax-free travel nurse stipend cap in Charleston?
- Tax-free housing and meal stipends for travel nurses are capped at the GSA per diem for the assignment location. In Charleston the full daily cap is up to $380 (peak-month lodging + $92 M&IE). A stipend at or below the GSA rate is tax-free; anything above is taxable wages.