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 Colorado (standard rate) | $791/wk | $476/wk | $1,267/wk |
| Aspen | $1,211/wk | $644/wk | $1,855/wk |
| Boulder,Broomfield | $1,211/wk | $560/wk | $1,771/wk |
| Colorado Springs | $896/wk | $602/wk | $1,498/wk |
| Cortez | $980/wk | $518/wk |
| $1,498/wk |
| Crested Butte,Gunnison | $1,253/wk | $602/wk | $1,855/wk |
|---|
| Denver,Aurora | $1,589/wk | $644/wk | $2,233/wk |
|---|
| Douglas | $791/wk | $560/wk | $1,351/wk |
|---|
| Durango | $854/wk | $560/wk | $1,414/wk |
|---|
| Fort Collins,Loveland | $840/wk | $560/wk | $1,400/wk |
|---|
| Grand Lake | $1,064/wk | $602/wk | $1,666/wk |
|---|
| Montrose | $1,358/wk | $518/wk | $1,876/wk |
|---|
| Silverthorne,Breckenridge | $1,148/wk | $644/wk | $1,792/wk |
|---|
| Steamboat Springs | $945/wk | $644/wk | $1,589/wk |
|---|
| Telluride | $1,302/wk | $644/wk | $1,946/wk |
|---|
| Vail | $1,435/wk | $644/wk | $2,079/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 →