The most an agency can usually pay you tax-free each week for housing and for meals and incidentals (M&IE), city by city, for federal fiscal year 2027 (October 2026 to September 2027).
| Where | Housing | M&IE | Total a week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everywhere else in California (standard rate) | $791/wk | $476/wk | $1,267/wk |
| Antioch,Brentwood,Concord | $1,029/wk | $602/wk | $1,631/wk |
| Bakersfield,Ridgecrest | $1,148/wk | $518/wk | $1,666/wk |
| Barstow,Ontario,Victorville | $903/wk |
| $602/wk |
| $1,505/wk |
| Death Valley | $1,078/wk | $560/wk | $1,638/wk |
|---|
| Eureka,Arcata,McKinleyville | $910/wk | $602/wk | $1,512/wk |
|---|
| Fresno | $952/wk | $602/wk | $1,554/wk |
|---|
| Los Angeles | $1,393/wk | $602/wk | $1,995/wk |
|---|
| Mammoth Lakes | $1,022/wk | $602/wk | $1,624/wk |
|---|
| Mill Valley,San Rafael,Novato | $1,183/wk | $644/wk | $1,827/wk |
|---|
| Monterey | $1,372/wk | $644/wk | $2,016/wk |
|---|
| Napa | $1,862/wk | $644/wk | $2,506/wk |
|---|
| Oakhurst | $959/wk | $560/wk | $1,519/wk |
|---|
| Oakland | $1,064/wk | $644/wk | $1,708/wk |
|---|
| Palm Springs | $1,302/wk | $602/wk | $1,904/wk |
|---|
| Point Arena,Gualala | $938/wk | $602/wk | $1,540/wk |
|---|
| Sacramento | $1,092/wk | $602/wk | $1,694/wk |
|---|
| San Diego | $1,456/wk | $602/wk | $2,058/wk |
|---|
| San Francisco | $1,953/wk | $644/wk | $2,597/wk |
|---|
| San Luis Obispo | $1,190/wk | $602/wk | $1,792/wk |
|---|
| San Mateo,Foster,Belmont | $1,519/wk | $602/wk | $2,121/wk |
|---|
| Santa Barbara | $1,498/wk | $644/wk | $2,142/wk |
|---|
| Santa Cruz | $1,043/wk | $602/wk | $1,645/wk |
|---|
| Santa Monica | $1,981/wk | $644/wk | $2,625/wk |
|---|
| Santa Rosa | $1,141/wk | $602/wk | $1,743/wk |
|---|
| South Lake Tahoe | $1,386/wk | $602/wk | $1,988/wk |
|---|
| Stockton | $959/wk | $518/wk | $1,477/wk |
|---|
| Sunnyvale,Palo Alto,San Jose | $1,526/wk | $644/wk | $2,170/wk |
|---|
| Tahoe | $924/wk | $602/wk | $1,526/wk |
|---|
| Truckee | $1,036/wk | $602/wk | $1,638/wk |
|---|
| Visalia | $952/wk | $560/wk | $1,512/wk |
|---|
| West Sacramento,Davis | $1,036/wk | $560/wk | $1,596/wk |
|---|
| Yosemite National Park | $1,288/wk | $602/wk | $1,890/wk |
|---|
Source: U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) per diem rates. Weekly = the daily rate times 7.
The GSA (the federal General Services Administration) sets the most the government pays its own staff for lodging and for meals and incidentals (M&IE) when they travel. Travel nursing agencies use these same rates as the top of their tax-free housing and meals stipends. Many pay less than the limit.
Stipends are usually tax-free only if you keep a tax home you pay for while you're away. Weekly numbers here are the daily rate times 7.
This is general information, not tax advice. Talk to a tax professional about your situation. Read our guide to stipends and tax homes →