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 Virginia (standard rate) | $791/wk | $476/wk | $1,267/wk |
| Blacksburg | $882/wk | $476/wk | $1,358/wk |
| Charlottesville | $994/wk | $560/wk | $1,554/wk |
| District of Columbia | $2,009/wk | $644/wk | $2,653/wk |
| Loudoun | $847/wk | $560/wk | $1,407/wk |
| Lynchburg | $868/wk | $476/wk | $1,344/wk |
|---|
| Richmond | $1,127/wk | $560/wk | $1,687/wk |
|---|
| Roanoke | $875/wk | $518/wk | $1,393/wk |
|---|
| Virginia Beach | $903/wk | $518/wk | $1,421/wk |
|---|
| Wallops Island | $924/wk | $476/wk | $1,400/wk |
|---|
| Williamsburg,York | $791/wk | $560/wk | $1,351/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 →