California · GSA non-standard area · FY2027
San Mateo / Foster City / Belmont per diem rates
Federal travelers to San Mateo / Foster City / Belmont (GSA area: San Mateo) can claim up to $217 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidental expenses in FY2027 (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027). Lodging is seasonal: $194 in the cheapest months (Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug) and $217 at the peak (Oct, Nov, Sep). That is $104 above the standard CONUS lodging rate of $113.
Lodging cap by month, FY2027
FY2027 rates by season
Exactly as listed in GSA's FY2027 per diem file. Season dates are inclusive; the lodging cap applies to the night that begins on each date.
| Season | Lodging | M&IE | Max per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 – Nov 30 | $217 | $86 | $303 |
| Dec 1 – Aug 31 | $194 | $86 | $280 |
| Sep 1 – Sep 30 | $217 | $86 | $303 |
Meals, incidentals and a worked trip
| Breakfast | $22 |
| Lunch | $23 |
| Dinner | $36 |
| Incidental expenses | $5 |
| M&IE, full day | $86 |
| First and last day of travel (75%) | $64.50 |
GSA's breakdown of the $86 M&IE tier, used to deduct meals provided by the government or included in a registration fee (FTR §301-11.21). Meals on a common carrier and complimentary hotel breakfasts are not deducted. All tiers
Worked example · October
A 4-night trip (5 travel days) in October:
| Lodging, 4 nights × $217 | $868 |
| M&IE, first and last day at 75% (2 × $64.50) | $129.00 |
| M&IE, 3 full days × $86 | $258 |
| Maximum for the trip | $1,255.00 |
Lodging is reimbursed up to the cap for actual cost (taxes are claimed separately on CONUS trips, FTR §301-11.16). The 75% first-and-last-day rule is FTR §301-11.20. Use the trip calculator for your own dates.
History, FY2015 to FY2027
Listed in every GSA file since FY2015.
San Mateo / Foster City / Belmont: lodging and M&IE by fiscal year
Each fiscal year runs October to September. Dashed line: the standard CONUS lodging rate.
| Fiscal year | Lodging | M&IE | Max/day | Peak change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2027 | $194 – $217 | $86 | $303 | +18.6% |
| FY2026 | $183 | $86 | $269 | 0% |
| FY2025 | $183 | $86 | $269 | −17.6% |
| FY2024 | $222 | $74 | $296 | 0% |
| FY2023 | $222 | $74 | $296 | 0% |
| FY2022 | $222 | $74 | $296 | 0% |
| FY2021 | $222 | $66 | $288 | −3.9% |
| FY2020 | $193 – $231 | $66 | $297 | +9.5% |
| FY2019 | $196 – $211 | $66 | $277 | −0.9% |
| FY2018 | $180 – $213 | $69 | $282 | +7.0% |
| FY2017 | $199 | $69 | $268 | +8.2% |
| FY2016 | $178 – $184 | $69 | $253 | +18.7% |
| FY2015 | $155 | $61 | $216 | – |
How it compares
Peak FY2027 lodging cap: San Mateo / Foster City / Belmont among all 295 non-standard areas
Rank #64 nationally and #9 of 32 in California. All California rates · National rankings
Where this rate applies
GSA defines this area as San Mateo in California. Under GSA's rules a non-standard area includes "all locations within, or entirely surrounded by, the corporate limits of the key city as well as the boundaries of the listed counties" (GSA per diem FAQs).
37 ZIP codes map to San Mateo / Foster City / Belmont in GSA's FY2027 ZIP code file
94002 94005 94010 94011 94014 94015 94016 94017 94018 94019 94020 94021 94025 94026 94027 94028 94030 94037 94038 94044 94060 94061 94062 94063 94064 94065 94066 94070 94074 94080 94083 94128 94401 94402 94403 94404 94497
Other California destinations
| Destination | Peak lodging | M&IE |
|---|---|---|
| San FranciscoSan Francisco | $325 | $92 |
| MontereyMonterey | $293 | $92 |
| Santa MonicaCity limits of Santa Monica | $283 | $92 |
| Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara | $277 | $92 |
| NapaNapa | $266 | $92 |
| South Lake TahoeEl Dorado | $262 | $86 |
| San DiegoSan Diego | $249 | $86 |
| Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San JoseSanta Clara | $218 | $92 |
Questions
- What is the per diem rate for San Mateo in FY2027?
- Lodging up to $217 a night ($194 to $217 depending on season), plus $86 a day for meals and incidental expenses, for travel from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027.
- How much M&IE do I get on the first and last day?
- 75% of the M&IE rate: $64.50 on the day you leave and the day you return (FTR §301-11.20, as published in the eCFR).
- Are hotel taxes included in the lodging rate?
- No. For CONUS travel, lodging taxes on the reimbursable room cost are claimed separately as a miscellaneous expense (FTR §301-11.16(a)).
Source: U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), per diem rates and per diem files. Not affiliated with GSA. All sources