Per Diem AtlasU.S. per diem rate directory

Independent reference using GSA dataFY2026 & FY2027 · Contiguous United States

Illinois · GSA rate directory

Chicago, Illinois per diem rates

Official GSA lodging ceilings, meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) and county coverage for Chicago. FY2027 runs Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027; select the fiscal year that matches your travel dates.

FY2027 at a glance

Lodging ceiling per night
$148–$238Seasonal: Oct 2026–Nov 2026: $232; Dec 2026–Mar 2027: $148; Apr 2027–Jun 2027: $238; Jul 2027–Aug 2027: $213; Sep 2027: $232
Meals & incidentals (M&IE)
$92 per full dayBreakfast $23.00 · lunch $26.00 · dinner $38.00 · incidentals $5.00
First & last day of travel
$69.0075% of $92, before provided-meal deductions
Change from FY2026
Peak lodging +$4$234 → $238 at the annual peak; lowest month +$6; M&IE no change
IRS high-low method (Notice 2026-60)
High-cost: $329During October 1 – November 30 and April 1 – September 30; $230 at other times. About IRS high-low rates

Chicago per diem, FY2027

Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

Lodging ceiling / night$148–$2384 different monthly ceilings
Full-day M&IE$92Meals and incidental expenses
First & last day M&IE$69.0075%, before provided-meal deductions

County and location coverage

Cook / Lake

Use the location of the work activity to determine the rate. A ZIP match is a starting point; confirm the full locality definition. How to select a locality.

Lodging rate periods

There are 5 consecutive rate periods in FY2027. A rate may return later in the year; each date range below is listed separately. Lodging taxes are excluded.

Consecutive periods with the same lodging ceiling. Dates are inclusive.
FromThroughLodging / night
$232
$148
$238
$213
$232
Lowest lodging ceiling
$148: Dec 2026, Jan 2027, Feb 2027, Mar 2027
Highest lodging ceiling
$238: Apr 2027, May 2027, Jun 2027
Seasonal difference
$90 per night between the lowest and highest ceiling

Monthly lodging per diem, FY2027

Each bar is the maximum room rate before lodging taxes. M&IE is $92 throughout this fiscal year.

$232
Oct
$232
Nov
$148
Dec
$148
Jan
$148
Feb
$148
Mar
$238
Apr
$238
May
$238
Jun
$213
Jul
$213
Aug
$232
Sep
Monthly lodging ceilings range from $148 to $238.
Full-day rates, FY2027. Travel-day meals are reduced separately.
MonthLodging / nightM&IE / dayCombined ceiling*Lodging vs FY2026
Oct 2026$232$92$324+$9
Nov 2026$232$92$324+$9
Dec 2026$148$92$240+$6
Jan 2027$148$92$240+$6
Feb 2027$148$92$240+$6
Mar 2027$148$92$240+$6
Apr 2027$238$92$330+$4
May 2027$238$92$330+$4
Jun 2027$238$92$330+$4
Jul 2027$213$92$305+$11
Aug 2027$213$92$305+$11
Sep 2027$232$92$324+$9

*Adding the two rates is a planning reference. Unused lodging allowance cannot be transferred to meals. Actual lodging reimbursement depends on eligible costs.

M&IE breakdown: inside the $92 meal allowance

GSA allocation of the full-day meals and incidental expenses allowance.
BreakfastLunchDinnerIncidentals
$23.00$26.00$38.00$5.00

The first and last travel day allowance is $69.00 before meal deductions. Government-provided meals and meals included in a registration fee generally reduce it by the full published meal allocation. Complimentary hotel breakfasts and common-carrier meals do not. View every meal tier and the deduction rules.

Chicago trip cost by season, FY2027

Planning ceilings for a single-destination trip: every night at that period’s lodging ceiling, $69.00 M&IE on the first and last days and $92 on each full day in between. Lodging taxes, transport and provided-meal deductions are excluded.

Lodging ceiling plus M&IE, before deductions
Travel periodLodging / night3 days, 2 nights5 days, 4 nights
– $232$694.00$1,342.00
– $148$526.00$1,006.00
– $238$706.00$1,366.00
– $213$656.00$1,266.00
– $232$694.00$1,342.00

Example: 2 × $232 + $69.00 + $92 + $69.00 = $694.00. A stay that crosses a period boundary uses each night’s own ceiling.

Per diem calculator for Chicago

Enter your dates to get a day-by-day breakdown with seasonal nights, 75% travel days, provided meals and your hotel quote. Opens the trip calculator.

Compare localities

Official record and source

Published locality
Chicago
GSA DestinationID
123
Fiscal-year validity
–
Workbook rows
256, 257, 258, 259, 260 (worksheet row numbers, including headings)
Source retrieved
Oct 1, 2026

A later GSA revision can supersede this snapshot. Source files, checksums and full directory downloads · Import and verification method.

Chicago per diem, FY2026

Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Lodging ceiling / night$142–$2344 different monthly ceilings
Full-day M&IE$92Meals and incidental expenses
First & last day M&IE$69.0075%, before provided-meal deductions

County and location coverage

Cook / Lake

Use the location of the work activity to determine the rate. A ZIP match is a starting point; confirm the full locality definition. How to select a locality.

Lodging rate periods

There are 5 consecutive rate periods in FY2026. A rate may return later in the year; each date range below is listed separately. Lodging taxes are excluded.

Consecutive periods with the same lodging ceiling. Dates are inclusive.
FromThroughLodging / night
$223
$142
$234
$202
$223
Lowest lodging ceiling
$142: Dec 2025, Jan 2026, Feb 2026, Mar 2026
Highest lodging ceiling
$234: Apr 2026, May 2026, Jun 2026
Seasonal difference
$92 per night between the lowest and highest ceiling

Monthly lodging per diem, FY2026

Each bar is the maximum room rate before lodging taxes. M&IE is $92 throughout this fiscal year.

$223
Oct
$223
Nov
$142
Dec
$142
Jan
$142
Feb
$142
Mar
$234
Apr
$234
May
$234
Jun
$202
Jul
$202
Aug
$223
Sep
Monthly lodging ceilings range from $142 to $234.
Full-day rates, FY2026. Travel-day meals are reduced separately.
MonthLodging / nightM&IE / dayCombined ceiling*Lodging vs FY2027
Oct 2025$223$92$315−$9
Nov 2025$223$92$315−$9
Dec 2025$142$92$234−$6
Jan 2026$142$92$234−$6
Feb 2026$142$92$234−$6
Mar 2026$142$92$234−$6
Apr 2026$234$92$326−$4
May 2026$234$92$326−$4
Jun 2026$234$92$326−$4
Jul 2026$202$92$294−$11
Aug 2026$202$92$294−$11
Sep 2026$223$92$315−$9

*Adding the two rates is a planning reference. Unused lodging allowance cannot be transferred to meals. Actual lodging reimbursement depends on eligible costs.

M&IE breakdown: inside the $92 meal allowance

GSA allocation of the full-day meals and incidental expenses allowance.
BreakfastLunchDinnerIncidentals
$23.00$26.00$38.00$5.00

The first and last travel day allowance is $69.00 before meal deductions. Government-provided meals and meals included in a registration fee generally reduce it by the full published meal allocation. Complimentary hotel breakfasts and common-carrier meals do not. View every meal tier and the deduction rules.

Chicago trip cost by season, FY2026

Planning ceilings for a single-destination trip: every night at that period’s lodging ceiling, $69.00 M&IE on the first and last days and $92 on each full day in between. Lodging taxes, transport and provided-meal deductions are excluded.

Lodging ceiling plus M&IE, before deductions
Travel periodLodging / night3 days, 2 nights5 days, 4 nights
– $223$676.00$1,306.00
– $142$514.00$982.00
– $234$698.00$1,350.00
– $202$634.00$1,222.00
– $223$676.00$1,306.00

Example: 2 × $223 + $69.00 + $92 + $69.00 = $676.00. A stay that crosses a period boundary uses each night’s own ceiling.

Per diem calculator for Chicago

Enter your dates to get a day-by-day breakdown with seasonal nights, 75% travel days, provided meals and your hotel quote. Opens the trip calculator.

Compare localities

Official record and source

Published locality
Chicago
GSA DestinationID
123
Fiscal-year validity
–
Workbook rows
254, 255, 256, 257, 258 (worksheet row numbers, including headings)
Source retrieved
Oct 1, 2026

A later GSA revision can supersede this snapshot. Source files, checksums and full directory downloads · Import and verification method.

Chicago per diem: common questions

Does the $148–$238 lodging rate include hotel tax?

No. GSA lodging ceilings for the contiguous United States exclude lodging taxes, which are claimed separately where your policy allows. Whether a traveler can avoid Illinois hotel taxes depends on the state’s rules and the payment account. Illinois hotel tax guidance and forms.

What if Chicago hotels cost more than $238 a night?

The ceiling limits ordinary lodging reimbursement; it is not a promise that rooms are available at that price. Federal travelers may need advance approval for actual expenses above the rate. When actual expenses can be approved.

How much is the Chicago per diem for one full day?

In FY2027, up to $148–$238 for the hotel night, depending on the month, plus $92 for meals and incidentals. On the first and last travel days the M&IE is $69.00.

Is a Chicago per diem taxable?

For employees paid under an accountable plan, an allowance up to the federal rate is generally not wages; any excess is. Employers using the IRS high-low method treat Chicago as high-cost during October 1 – November 30 and April 1 – September 30. Per diem and taxes.