Columbia Per Diem Rate (FY2026)
Richland / Lexington · South Carolina · Official U.S. GSA federal per diem
For fiscal year 2026, the GSA per diem rate for Columbia is $74/day for meals & incidental expenses (M&IE) and $115/night for lodging, compared with the standard $178/day CONUS rate ($110 lodging + $68 M&IE).
M&IE / day
$74
Flat all year
Lodging low
$115
Flat all year
Lodging peak
$115
Flat all year
Full daily (peak)
$189
Lodging + M&IE
Example trip
A 4-night business trip to Columbia in January totals $793 — $460 lodging (4 nights) + $333 M&IE (5 days, first & last day at 75%).
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Columbia lodging rate by month (FY2026)
Nightly lodging caps for Columbia. M&IE is flat at $74/day and does not change by month.
| Month | Lodging / night | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | $115 | · |
| Feb | $115 | · |
| Mar | $115 | · |
| Apr | $115 | · |
| May | $115 | · |
| Jun | $115 | · |
| Jul | $115 | · |
| Aug | $115 | · |
| Sep | $115 | · |
| Oct | $115 | · |
| Nov | $115 | · |
| Dec | $115 | · |
Columbia per diem FAQ
- What is the per diem rate for Columbia?
- For FY2026, the GSA per diem rate for Columbia, South Carolina is $74 per day for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) and $115/night for lodging. The standard CONUS rate, for comparison, is $178 per day ($110 lodging + $68 M&IE).
- What is the tax-free travel nurse stipend cap in Columbia?
- Tax-free housing and meal stipends for travel nurses are capped at the GSA per diem for the assignment location. In Columbia the full daily cap is up to $189 (peak-month lodging + $74 M&IE). A stipend at or below the GSA rate is tax-free; anything above is taxable wages.