Per Diem AtlasU.S. per diem rate directory

Independent reference using GSA dataFY2026 & FY2027 · Contiguous United States

South Carolina · GSA rate directory

Charleston, South Carolina per diem rates

Official GSA lodging ceilings, meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) and county coverage for Charleston. 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
$218–$288Seasonal: Oct 2026: $244; Nov 2026–Feb 2027: $218; Mar 2027–May 2027: $288; Jun 2027–Sep 2027: $244
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 no change$288 → $288 at the annual peak; lowest month no change; M&IE no change
IRS high-low method (Notice 2026-60)
High-cost: $329During October 1 – September 30; $230 at other times. About IRS high-low rates

Charleston per diem, FY2027

Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027

Lodging ceiling / night$218–$2883 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

Charleston / Berkeley / Dorchester

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 4 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
$244
$218
$288
$244
Lowest lodging ceiling
$218: Nov 2026, Dec 2026, Jan 2027, Feb 2027
Highest lodging ceiling
$288: Mar 2027, Apr 2027, May 2027
Seasonal difference
$70 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.

$244
Oct
$218
Nov
$218
Dec
$218
Jan
$218
Feb
$288
Mar
$288
Apr
$288
May
$244
Jun
$244
Jul
$244
Aug
$244
Sep
Monthly lodging ceilings range from $218 to $288.
Full-day rates, FY2027. Travel-day meals are reduced separately.
MonthLodging / nightM&IE / dayCombined ceiling*Lodging vs FY2026
Oct 2026$244$92$336No change
Nov 2026$218$92$310No change
Dec 2026$218$92$310No change
Jan 2027$218$92$310No change
Feb 2027$218$92$310No change
Mar 2027$288$92$380No change
Apr 2027$288$92$380No change
May 2027$288$92$380No change
Jun 2027$244$92$336No change
Jul 2027$244$92$336No change
Aug 2027$244$92$336No change
Sep 2027$244$92$336No change

*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.

Charleston 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
– $244$718.00$1,390.00
– $218$666.00$1,286.00
– $288$806.00$1,566.00
– $244$718.00$1,390.00

Example: 2 × $244 + $69.00 + $92 + $69.00 = $718.00. A stay that crosses a period boundary uses each night’s own ceiling.

Per diem calculator for Charleston

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
Charleston
GSA DestinationID
326
Fiscal-year validity
–
Workbook rows
531, 532, 533, 534 (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.

Charleston per diem, FY2026

Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026

Lodging ceiling / night$218–$2883 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

Charleston / Berkeley / Dorchester

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 4 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
$244
$218
$288
$244
Lowest lodging ceiling
$218: Nov 2025, Dec 2025, Jan 2026, Feb 2026
Highest lodging ceiling
$288: Mar 2026, Apr 2026, May 2026
Seasonal difference
$70 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.

$244
Oct
$218
Nov
$218
Dec
$218
Jan
$218
Feb
$288
Mar
$288
Apr
$288
May
$244
Jun
$244
Jul
$244
Aug
$244
Sep
Monthly lodging ceilings range from $218 to $288.
Full-day rates, FY2026. Travel-day meals are reduced separately.
MonthLodging / nightM&IE / dayCombined ceiling*Lodging vs FY2027
Oct 2025$244$92$336No change
Nov 2025$218$92$310No change
Dec 2025$218$92$310No change
Jan 2026$218$92$310No change
Feb 2026$218$92$310No change
Mar 2026$288$92$380No change
Apr 2026$288$92$380No change
May 2026$288$92$380No change
Jun 2026$244$92$336No change
Jul 2026$244$92$336No change
Aug 2026$244$92$336No change
Sep 2026$244$92$336No change

*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.

Charleston 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
– $244$718.00$1,390.00
– $218$666.00$1,286.00
– $288$806.00$1,566.00
– $244$718.00$1,390.00

Example: 2 × $244 + $69.00 + $92 + $69.00 = $718.00. A stay that crosses a period boundary uses each night’s own ceiling.

Per diem calculator for Charleston

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
Charleston
GSA DestinationID
326
Fiscal-year validity
–
Workbook rows
528, 529, 530, 531 (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.

Charleston per diem: common questions

Does the $218–$288 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 South Carolina hotel taxes depends on the state’s rules and the payment account. South Carolina hotel tax guidance and forms.

What if Charleston hotels cost more than $288 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 Charleston per diem for one full day?

In FY2027, up to $218–$288 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 Charleston 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 Charleston as high-cost during October 1 – September 30. Per diem and taxes.