The largest metro
Colorado’s largest metro area is Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 population estimates, read October 4, 2026). Its most populous county in Colorado, Denver County, is in GSA’s Denver / Aurora, CO rate area: lodging $170 to $227 a night, depending on the month, M&IE $92 a day (FY2027). Source: GSA per diem rates, FY2027, from GSA’s per diem API (retrieved September 21, 2026).
Rates across Colorado
Anywhere in Colorado without a rate of its own, GSA’s FY2027 standard rate applies: lodging $113 a night, M&IE $68 a day. 15 areas have their own rates:
| Area | Counties GSA lists | Lodging a night | M&IE a day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspen, CO | Pitkin | $173 to $419 by month | $92 |
| Boulder / Broomfield, CO | Boulder / Broomfield | $125 to $173 by month | $80 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | El Paso | $128 to $176 by month | $86 |
| Cortez, CO | Montezuma | $113 to $140 by month | $74 |
| Crested Butte / Gunnison, CO | Gunnison | $140 to $179 by month | $86 |
| Denver / Aurora, CO | Denver / Adams / Arapahoe / Jefferson | $170 to $227 by month | $92 |
| Douglas, CO | Douglas | $113 to $139 by month | $80 |
| Durango, CO | La Plata | $122 to $190 by month | $80 |
| Fort Collins / Loveland, CO | Larimer | $120 to $157 by month | $80 |
| Grand Lake, CO | Grand | $128 to $182 by month | $86 |
| Montrose, CO | Montrose | $143 to $194 by month | $74 |
| Silverthorne / Breckenridge, CO | Summit | $164 to $296 by month | $92 |
| Steamboat Springs, CO | Routt | $126 to $299 by month | $92 |
| Telluride, CO | San Miguel | $186 to $367 by month | $92 |
| Vail, CO | Eagle | $205 to $417 by month | $92 |
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 Colorado: licensing in Colorado, Colorado pay and Colorado contracts, and housing in Denver.
Frequently asked questions
What is the GSA lodging rate in Colorado?
GSA’s FY2027 standard lodging rate in Colorado is $113 a night. The 15 areas with their own rates run from $113 to $419 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 Colorado?
GSA’s FY2027 standard rate for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) in Colorado is $68 a day; the 15 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.