California per diem rates (FY2026)
California has 32 cities with their own GSA rate. Everywhere else in the state uses the standard rate.
| City / county | Lodging | M&IE |
|---|---|---|
| Antioch / Brentwood / Concord · Contra Costa | $147.00 | $86.00 |
| Bakersfield / Ridgecrest · Kern | $132.00 | $74.00 |
| Barstow / Ontario / Victorville · San Bernardino | $124.00 | $86.00 |
| Death Valley · Inyo / NAWS China Lake | $142.00 | $80.00 |
| Eureka / Arcata / McKinleyville · Humboldt | $125.00–$172.00 | $86.00 |
| Fresno · Fresno | $129.00 | $86.00 |
| Los Angeles · Los Angeles / Orange / Ventura / Edwards AFB less the city of Santa Monica | $191.00 | $86.00 |
| Mammoth Lakes · Mono | $139.00–$195.00 | $86.00 |
| Mill Valley / San Rafael / Novato · Marin | $153.00–$175.00 | $92.00 |
| Monterey · Monterey | $191.00–$279.00 | $92.00 |
| Napa · Napa | $172.00–$246.00 | $92.00 |
| Oakhurst · Madera | $135.00 | $80.00 |
| Oakland · Alameda | $145.00 | $92.00 |
| Palm Springs · Riverside | $141.00–$186.00 | $86.00 |
| Point Arena / Gualala · Mendocino | $129.00 | $86.00 |
| Sacramento · Sacramento | $150.00 | $86.00 |
| San Diego · San Diego | $199.00–$237.00 | $86.00 |
| San Francisco · San Francisco | $259.00–$272.00 | $92.00 |
| San Luis Obispo · San Luis Obispo | $163.00–$203.00 | $86.00 |
| San Mateo / Foster City / Belmont · San Mateo | $183.00 | $86.00 |
| Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara | $205.00–$262.00 | $92.00 |
| Santa Cruz · Santa Cruz | $139.00–$176.00 | $86.00 |
| Santa Monica · City limits of Santa Monica | $273.00 | $92.00 |
| Santa Rosa · Sonoma | $157.00 | $86.00 |
| South Lake Tahoe · El Dorado | $141.00–$247.00 | $86.00 |
| Stockton · San Joaquin | $132.00 | $74.00 |
| Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose · Santa Clara | $192.00 | $92.00 |
| Tahoe City · Placer | $131.00 | $86.00 |
| Truckee · Nevada | $142.00–$173.00 | $86.00 |
| Visalia · Tulare | $131.00 | $80.00 |
| West Sacramento / Davis · Yolo | $142.00 | $80.00 |
| Yosemite National Park · Mariposa | $181.00–$203.00 | $86.00 |
About California per diem
GSA has surveyed and listed a non-standard rate for 32 locations in California, topping out at $279.00 a night in Monterey. Every other city or county in the state defaults to the standard CONUS rate of $110.00 lodging and $68.00 M&IE.
On the first and last day of any trip, M&IE is paid at 75% under the first/last-day rule — $51.00 at the standard rate, or the equivalent 75% figure for whichever listed city you're travelling to. See how to calculate per diem for a business trip for the full worked example.
Frequently asked questions
Does every city in California have its own per diem rate?
No — only 32 locations have a separately listed GSA rate in California. Every other city or county in the state uses the standard CONUS rate of $110.00 lodging + $68.00 M&IE.
Which city in California has the highest per diem rate?
Monterey has the highest listed lodging cap in California, at $279.00 a night, compared with $124.00 in Barstow / Ontario / Victorville.
How do I calculate per diem for a multi-city trip through California?
Use the calculator on each city's page for the nights spent there, then add the totals together — lodging caps and M&IE tiers can differ from one California city to the next, so a single flat rate for the whole trip would be inaccurate.
Calculate a trip → PerDiemWise is an independent tool, not affiliated with the GSA.