The largest metro
Massachusetts’s largest metro area is Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 population estimates, read October 4, 2026). Its most populous county in Massachusetts, Middlesex County, is in GSA’s Burlington / Woburn, MA rate area: lodging $152 to $187 a night, depending on the month, M&IE $86 a day (FY2027). Source: GSA per diem rates, FY2027, from GSA’s per diem API (retrieved September 21, 2026).
Rates across Massachusetts
Anywhere in Massachusetts without a rate of its own, GSA’s FY2027 standard rate applies: lodging $113 a night, M&IE $68 a day. 13 areas have their own rates:
| Area | Counties GSA lists | Lodging a night | M&IE a day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andover, MA | Essex | $137 | $80 |
| Boston / Cambridge, MA | Suffolk, city of Cambridge | $213 to $365 by month | $92 |
| Burlington / Woburn, MA | Middlesex less the city of Cambridge | $152 to $187 by month | $86 |
| Falmouth, MA | City limits of Falmouth | $138 to $247 by month | $86 |
| Hyannis, MA | Barnstable less the city of Falmouth | $131 to $220 by month | $92 |
| Martha's Vineyard, MA | Dukes | $199 to $473 by month | $92 |
| Nantucket, MA | Nantucket | $171 to $487 by month | $92 |
| Northampton, MA | Hampshire | $157 | $80 |
| Pittsfield, MA | Berkshire | $142 to $188 by month | $86 |
| Plymouth / Taunton / New Bedford, MA | Plymouth / Bristol | $127 | $80 |
| Quincy, MA | Norfolk | $146 to $190 by month | $80 |
| Springfield, MA | Hampden | $131 | $74 |
| Worcester, MA | Worcester | $140 | $80 |
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 Massachusetts: licensing in Massachusetts, Massachusetts pay and Massachusetts contracts, and housing in Boston.
Frequently asked questions
What is the GSA lodging rate in Massachusetts?
GSA’s FY2027 standard lodging rate in Massachusetts is $113 a night. The 13 areas with their own rates run from $127 to $487 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 Massachusetts?
GSA’s FY2027 standard rate for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) in Massachusetts is $68 a day; the 13 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.