The largest metro
California’s largest metro area is Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 population estimates, read October 4, 2026). Its most populous county in California, Los Angeles County, is in GSA’s Los Angeles, CA rate area: lodging $199 a night, M&IE $86 a day (FY2027). Source: GSA per diem rates, FY2027, from GSA’s per diem API (retrieved September 21, 2026).
Rates across California
Anywhere in California without a rate of its own, GSA’s FY2027 standard rate applies: lodging $113 a night, M&IE $68 a day. 32 areas have their own rates:
| Area | Counties GSA lists | Lodging a night | M&IE a day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antioch / Brentwood / Concord, CA | Contra Costa | $147 | $86 |
| Bakersfield / Ridgecrest, CA | Kern | $164 | $74 |
| Barstow / Ontario / Victorville, CA | San Bernardino | $129 | $86 |
| Death Valley, CA | Inyo / NAWS China Lake | $154 | $80 |
| Eureka / Arcata / McKinleyville, CA | Humboldt | $130 to $181 by month | $86 |
| Fresno, CA | Fresno | $136 | $86 |
| Los Angeles, CA | Los Angeles / Orange / Ventura / Edwards AFB less the city of Santa Monica | $199 | $86 |
| Mammoth Lakes, CA | Mono | $146 to $208 by month | $86 |
| Mill Valley / San Rafael / Novato, CA | Marin | $169 | $92 |
| Monterey, CA | Monterey | $196 to $293 by month | $92 |
| Napa, CA | Napa | $194 to $266 by month | $92 |
| Oakhurst, CA | Madera | $137 | $80 |
| Oakland, CA | Alameda | $152 | $92 |
| Palm Springs, CA | Riverside | $141 to $192 by month | $86 |
| Point Arena / Gualala, CA | Mendocino | $134 | $86 |
| Sacramento, CA | Sacramento | $156 | $86 |
| San Diego, CA | San Diego | $208 to $249 by month | $86 |
| San Francisco, CA | San Francisco | $232 to $325 by month | $92 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | San Luis Obispo | $170 to $213 by month | $86 |
| San Mateo / Foster City / Belmont, CA | San Mateo | $194 to $217 by month | $86 |
| Santa Barbara, CA | Santa Barbara | $214 to $277 by month | $92 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | Santa Cruz | $149 to $181 by month | $86 |
| Santa Monica, CA | City limits of Santa Monica | $283 | $92 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | Sonoma | $163 | $86 |
| South Lake Tahoe, CA | El Dorado | $168 to $262 by month | $86 |
| Stockton, CA | San Joaquin | $137 | $74 |
| Sunnyvale / Palo Alto / San Jose, CA | Santa Clara | $218 | $92 |
| Tahoe City, CA | Placer | $132 | $86 |
| Truckee, CA | Nevada | $148 to $178 by month | $86 |
| Visalia, CA | Tulare | $136 | $80 |
| West Sacramento / Davis, CA | Yolo | $148 | $80 |
| Yosemite National Park, CA | Mariposa | $184 to $212 by month | $86 |
Source: GSA per diem rates, FY2027, from GSA’s per diem API (retrieved September 21, 2026).
How a stipend relates to these rates
The U.S. General Services Administration says: “We establish the per diem rates that federal agencies use to reimburse their employees for lodging and meals and incidental expenses incurred while on official travel within the continental United States.” Source: GSA: Per diem rates, read September 30, 2026.
The IRS says: “If your allowance is less than or equal to the federal rate, the allowance won’t be included in box 1 of your Form W-2.” Source: IRS Publication 463 (2025), read October 2, 2026.
The IRS says: “Generally, your tax home is your regular place of business or post of duty, regardless of where you maintain your family home. It includes the entire city or general area in which your business or work is located.” Source: IRS Publication 463 (2025), read October 2, 2026.
More on California: licensing in California, California pay and California contracts, and housing in San Diego.
Frequently asked questions
What is the GSA lodging rate in California?
GSA’s FY2027 standard lodging rate in California is $113 a night. The 32 areas with their own rates run from $129 to $325 a night, depending on the area and the month. Source: GSA per diem rates, FY2027, from GSA’s per diem API (retrieved September 21, 2026).
What is the M&IE rate in California?
GSA’s FY2027 standard rate for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) in California is $68 a day; the 32 areas with their own rates run from $74 to $92 a day. Source: GSA per diem rates, FY2027, from GSA’s per diem API (retrieved September 21, 2026).
Is a stipend at or below the federal rate reported as wages?
The IRS says: “If your allowance is less than or equal to the federal rate, the allowance won’t be included in box 1 of your Form W-2.” Source: IRS Publication 463 (2025), read October 2, 2026.
To see what a package’s stipends come to, use the stipend calculator. Stipend rates for every state.