St. Louis, MO per-diem rate (FY2026)
The GSA federal ceiling for tax-free housing & meal stipends on a travel-nurse assignment in St. Louis (St. Louis / St. Louis City / St. Charles County).
$236 / day max
| Lodging / night | $150 |
| M&IE / full day | $86 |
| M&IE first/last day (75%) | $64.5 |
| Weekly tax-free ceiling | $1,652 |
| 13-week assignment ceiling | $21,476 |
Source: GSA FY2026, effective 2025-10-01.
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What this means for travel nurses
When you take an assignment in St. Louis, 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 $1,652/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.
SafetyWing Nomad Insurance — Between contracts, or on an assignment without benefits? SafetyWing's flexible, month-to-month Nomad Insurance is built for people on the move. See SafetyWing
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the 2026 per diem rate for St. Louis, MO?
- For FY2026, the GSA per-diem rate for St. Louis, MO is $150 for lodging plus $86 for meals and incidentals (M&IE), for up to $236 per day.
- How much can my travel-nurse housing stipend be in St. Louis?
- Agencies can generally pay up to the GSA ceiling tax-free: about $1,652 per week (lodging + M&IE) in St. Louis. 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 St. Louis.
This page is general educational information, not tax, legal, or financial advice. Per-diem rates can change and may have seasonal variations; always confirm with the official GSA rates and a qualified travel-nurse tax professional before relying on them.