South Lake Tahoe, CA per-diem rate (FY2026)
The GSA federal ceiling for tax-free housing & meal stipends on a travel-nurse assignment in South Lake Tahoe (El Dorado County).
| Lodging / night | $141–$247 |
| M&IE / full day | $86 |
| M&IE first/last day (75%) | $64.5 |
| Weekly tax-free ceiling | $2,331 |
| 13-week assignment ceiling | $30,303 |
Source: GSA FY2026, effective 2025-10-01.
Check your offer
Seasonal lodging rates
Lodging in South Lake Tahoe changes by season. M&IE stays $86/day all year.
| Season | Lodging / night |
|---|---|
| October 1 – November 30 | $141 |
| December 1 – March 31 | $247 |
| April 1 – May 31 | $143 |
| June 1 – August 31 | $171 |
| September 1 – September 30 | $141 |
What this means for travel nurses
When you take an assignment in South Lake Tahoe, your agency builds a pay package from a taxable hourly base plus tax-free stipends for housing and meals. Those stipends can only be paid tax-free up to the GSA per-diem ceiling above — roughly $2,331/week. If a recruiter quotes a housing stipend far above this, ask how the package is structured; the excess may be taxable, and an artificially low taxable base carries its own IRS risk. To keep stipends tax-free you must also maintain a legitimate tax home.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the 2026 per diem rate for South Lake Tahoe, CA?
- For FY2026, the GSA per-diem rate for South Lake Tahoe, CA is $141–$247 for lodging (seasonal) plus $86 for meals and incidentals (M&IE), for up to $333 per day.
- How much can my travel-nurse housing stipend be in South Lake Tahoe?
- Agencies can generally pay up to the GSA ceiling tax-free: about $2,331 per week (lodging + M&IE) in South Lake Tahoe. Amounts above that may be taxable. Use the calculator on this page to check a specific offer.
- What is the M&IE first and last day rate?
- On travel days you get 75% of the daily M&IE, which is $64.5 for South Lake Tahoe.