Per diem for a trip with several work localities

Under FTR §301-11.4 the temporary duty location generally determines the per diem rate. On a trip with several localities, the practical consequence is that each hotel night is capped by the ceiling of the locality where you sleep that night, for that month and fiscal year. A cheaper night in one city does not raise the ceiling in the next.

For meals and incidental expenses, the method used by this site gives each calendar day the M&IE rate of the locality where you stay that night. On the return day there is no hotel night, so the last locality’s rate is used. This mirrors the lodging rule. The FTR text does not spell out a separate rule for a day spent in two localities, and agencies can issue more specific instructions: check yours before filing a voucher.

FTR §301-11.20 reduces M&IE to 75% on the first day of departure and the last day of travel, for travel of 24 hours or more. Only those two days of the whole trip are reduced: a move between two localities in the middle of the trip is treated here as a full M&IE day at the rate of the place where you stay that night.

Five days, four nights in October 2026 (FY2027): leave home on Monday and stay one night in a standard-rate location, then move to Chicago on Tuesday for three nights and fly home on Friday.

Ceilings: $809 lodging and $396 M&IE, $1,205 before lodging taxes, provided-meal deductions and transportation. The trip calculator produces this breakdown with the “Add another work locality” option and lets you enter real hotel quotes per night.

Stops outside the contiguous United States use Department of Defense or Department of State rates. Personal days between work localities, rest stops on long international flights and agency-approved alternative lodging locations follow separate rules. Lodging taxes stay outside the ceiling for every locality.