California · GSA non-standard area · FY2027
Santa Barbara per diem rates
Federal travelers to Santa Barbara (GSA area: Santa Barbara) can claim up to $277 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidental expenses in FY2027 (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027). Lodging is seasonal: $214 in the cheapest months (Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Sep) and $277 at the peak (Jul, Aug). That is $164 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 – Jun 30 | $214 | $92 | $306 |
| Jul 1 – Aug 31 | $277 | $92 | $369 |
| Sep 1 – Sep 30 | $214 | $92 | $306 |
Meals, incidentals and a worked trip
| Breakfast | $23 |
| Lunch | $26 |
| Dinner | $38 |
| Incidental expenses | $5 |
| M&IE, full day | $92 |
| First and last day of travel (75%) | $69.00 |
GSA's breakdown of the $92 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 · July
A 4-night trip (5 travel days) in July:
| Lodging, 4 nights × $277 | $1,108 |
| M&IE, first and last day at 75% (2 × $69.00) | $138.00 |
| M&IE, 3 full days × $92 | $276 |
| Maximum for the trip | $1,522.00 |
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.
Santa Barbara: 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 | $214 – $277 | $92 | $369 | +5.7% |
| FY2026 | $205 – $262 | $92 | $354 | 0% |
| FY2025 | $205 – $262 | $92 | $354 | −9.3% |
| FY2024 | $214 – $289 | $74 | $363 | 0% |
| FY2023 | $214 – $289 | $74 | $363 | +26.8% |
| FY2022 | $177 – $228 | $74 | $302 | 0% |
| FY2021 | $177 – $228 | $76 | $304 | +1.8% |
| FY2020 | $171 – $224 | $76 | $300 | +0.4% |
| FY2019 | $168 – $223 | $76 | $299 | +0.5% |
| FY2018 | $167 – $222 | $74 | $296 | +1.4% |
| FY2017 | $164 – $219 | $74 | $293 | +3.8% |
| FY2016 | $161 – $211 | $74 | $285 | +5.5% |
| FY2015 | $151 – $200 | $66 | $266 | – |
How it compares
Peak FY2027 lodging cap: Santa Barbara among all 295 non-standard areas
Rank #24 nationally and #4 of 32 in California. All California rates · National rankings
Where this rate applies
GSA defines this area as Santa Barbara 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).
41 ZIP codes map to Santa Barbara in GSA's FY2027 ZIP code file
93013 93014 93067 93101 93102 93103 93105 93106 93107 93108 93109 93110 93111 93116 93117 93118 93120 93121 93130 93140 93150 93160 93190 93199 93254 93427 93429 93434 93436 93437 93438 93440 93441 93454 93455 93456 93457 93458 93460 93463 93464
Other California destinations
| Destination | Peak lodging | M&IE |
|---|---|---|
| San FranciscoSan Francisco | $325 | $92 |
| MontereyMonterey | $293 | $92 |
| Santa MonicaCity limits of Santa Monica | $283 | $92 |
| NapaNapa | $266 | $92 |
| South Lake TahoeEl Dorado | $262 | $86 |
| San DiegoSan Diego | $249 | $86 |
| Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San JoseSanta Clara | $218 | $92 |
| San Mateo / Foster City / BelmontSan Mateo | $217 | $86 |
Questions
- What is the per diem rate for Santa Barbara in FY2027?
- Lodging up to $277 a night ($214 to $277 depending on season), plus $92 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: $69.00 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