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 Pennsylvania (standard rate) | $791/wk | $476/wk | $1,267/wk |
| Bucks | $847/wk | $560/wk | $1,407/wk |
| Chester,Radnor,Essington | $903/wk | $560/wk | $1,463/wk |
| Gettysburg | $840/wk | $476/wk | $1,316/wk |
| Harrisburg |
| $903/wk |
| $518/wk |
| $1,421/wk |
| Hershey | $1,057/wk | $560/wk | $1,617/wk |
|---|
| Lancaster | $875/wk | $518/wk | $1,393/wk |
|---|
| Malvern,Frazer,Berwyn | $924/wk | $560/wk | $1,484/wk |
|---|
| Montgomery | $903/wk | $560/wk | $1,463/wk |
|---|
| Philadelphia | $1,589/wk | $644/wk | $2,233/wk |
|---|
| Pittsburgh | $1,008/wk | $560/wk | $1,568/wk |
|---|
| Reading | $854/wk | $518/wk | $1,372/wk |
|---|
| State College | $924/wk | $518/wk | $1,442/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 →