South Carolina · GSA non-standard area · FY2027
Columbia per diem rates
Federal travelers to Columbia (GSA area: Richland / Lexington) can claim up to $115 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidental expenses in FY2027 (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027). That is $2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All year | $115 | $74 | $189 |
Meals, incidentals and a worked trip
| Breakfast | $18 |
| Lunch | $20 |
| Dinner | $31 |
| Incidental expenses | $5 |
| M&IE, full day | $74 |
| First and last day of travel (75%) | $55.50 |
GSA's breakdown of the $74 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 · November
A 4-night trip (5 travel days) in November:
| Lodging, 4 nights × $115 | $460 |
| M&IE, first and last day at 75% (2 × $55.50) | $111.00 |
| M&IE, 3 full days × $74 | $222 |
| Maximum for the trip | $793.00 |
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.
Columbia: 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 | $115 | $74 | $189 | 0% |
| FY2026 | $115 | $74 | $189 | 0% |
| FY2025 | $115 | $74 | $189 | +2.7% |
| FY2024 | $112 | $64 | $176 | 0% |
| FY2023 | $112 | $64 | $176 | 0% |
| FY2022 | $112 | $64 | $176 | 0% |
| FY2021 | $112 | $61 | $173 | −0.9% |
| FY2020 | $113 | $61 | $174 | +3.7% |
| FY2019 | $109 | $61 | $170 | +3.8% |
| FY2018 | $105 | $59 | $164 | +4.0% |
| FY2017 | $101 | $59 | $160 | +2.0% |
| FY2016 | $99 | $59 | $158 | +5.3% |
| FY2015 | $94 | $51 | $145 | – |
How it compares
Peak FY2027 lodging cap: Columbia among all 295 non-standard areas
Rank #294 nationally and #4 of 4 in South Carolina. All South Carolina rates · National rankings
Where this rate applies
GSA defines this area as Richland / Lexington in South Carolina. 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).
63 ZIP codes map to Columbia in GSA's FY2027 ZIP code file
29002 29006 29016 29033 29036 29044 29045 29052 29053 29054 29061 29063 29070 29071 29072 29073 29075 29078 29112 29123 29130 29147 29160 29169 29170 29171 29172 29177 29180 29201 29202 29203 29204 29205 29206 29207 29208 29209 29210 29211 29212 29214 29215 29216 29217 29218 29219 29220 29221 29222 29223 29224 29225 29226 29227 29228 29229 29230 29240 29250 29260 29290 29292
Other South Carolina destinations
| Destination | Peak lodging | M&IE |
|---|---|---|
| CharlestonCharleston / Berkeley / Dorchester | $288 | $92 |
| Hilton HeadBeaufort | $226 | $80 |
| Myrtle BeachHorry | $202 | $74 |
Questions
- What is the per diem rate for Columbia in FY2027?
- Lodging up to $115 a night, plus $74 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: $55.50 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