Atlanta Per Diem Calculator and Rates

Calculate Atlanta's per diem rate based on GSA guidelines to simplify your business travels.

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As the economic engine of the Southeast and home to the world's busiest airport, Atlanta is a top-tier destination for business travel, conventions, and corporate meetings. For any organization with employees traveling to this bustling metropolis, a clear strategy for managing expenses is vital. 

Per diem, a daily allowance for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses, offers a streamlined method for reimbursement. This guide provides a comprehensive look at the per diem rates for the Atlanta area, important Georgia laws for employers, and how to automate the entire process for compliance and efficiency.

Atlanta Per Diem Rates

Atlanta and its surrounding counties are designated as a Non-Standard Area (NSA) by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), with specific per diem rates that are higher than the standard U.S. rate. It's important to note that rates can vary between different counties within the Atlanta metro area.

For Fiscal Year 2025 (October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025), the rates are as follows:

Atlanta Area Rates

  • Atlanta (Fulton & DeKalb Counties):
    • M&IE: $86 per day
    • Lodging: Seasonal, with a peak rate of $197 per night (January-March) and a rate of $182 per night for all other months.
    • The first and last day of travel M&IE rate is $64.50.
  • Marietta (Cobb County): Often considered part of the metro area, Cobb County has a different rate.
    • M&IE: $74 per day
    • Lodging: A flat rate of $126 per night.

Standard CONUS Rate 

For any county in Georgia not specifically listed by the GSA, the standard CONUS rate applies. For FY 2025, this rate is $178 ($110 for lodging and $68 for M&IE).

Atlanta Per Diem Rate Calculator

To find the precise per diem allowance for your trip to the Atlanta area, our calculator provides instant, accurate results based on the official GSA schedule.

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Your per diem allowance

Dates
Lodging (L)
Meals & Incidentals (M&IE)
Total (L + M&IE)
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Lodging (L)
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Meals & Incidentals (M&IE)
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Total (L + M&IE)
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*For the first and last day of travel, M&lE spend is limited to 75% of its normal, daily allowance.

Atlanta GSA Lodging Rates

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County
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Atlanta Meals and Incidental Rates

Financial year
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County
Daily M&IE Total
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Some Important Atlanta Per Diem Laws

Private employers in Atlanta are governed by Georgia state law, which has a distinct approach to employee expense reimbursement.

  • No State Law Mandating Expense Reimbursement: Georgia law does not require private employers to reimburse employees for business-related travel expenses. The decision to pay a per diem or reimburse actual costs is based entirely on the employer's internal policy or employment agreement.
  • Company Policy is Key: While not mandated by law, if an employer establishes a policy to reimburse expenses, that policy creates a binding contract. An employee could sue for breach of contract if the employer fails to follow its own written rules.
  • Federal Minimum Wage Applies: Georgia's state minimum wage is $5.15 per hour, which is lower than the federal rate. Therefore, almost all businesses in Georgia must adhere to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
  • Federal FLSA Protections: The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) provides the primary legal protection for employees. This law ensures that required business expenses paid by an employee do not cause their effective hourly pay to fall below the $7.25 per hour federal minimum wage.

Atlanta Per Diem Laws vs Federal Law

The per diem framework for a private company employee in Atlanta is fundamentally different from the GSA system that governs federal employees.

Primary Applicability

  • Federal Law (GSA): Mandatory for all U.S. federal government employees on official business in Atlanta.
  • Georgia Law: State law does not set per diem rules for private employers. The primary legal considerations are the employer's own policies and the federal FLSA minimum wage protection.

Rate Setting and Usage

  • Federal Law (GSA): The GSA sets specific, non-negotiable per diem rates for the Atlanta area that federal agencies must use.
  • Georgia Law: The state does not set or regulate per diem rates. Private companies have the flexibility to design their own travel reimbursement policies. Using GSA rates is a common business practice for fairness but is not a legal requirement.

Legal Focus

  • Federal Law (GSA): Aims to create a uniform, cost-controlled system for all government travel.
  • Georgia Law: Relies on employment agreements and federal law. If a company promises reimbursement, it is expected to adhere to its policy.

How Fyle Can Automate Per Diem and Expense Tracking

Managing travel expenses for a major business hub like Atlanta requires a system that can handle different rates within the same metro area while ensuring compliance with your company policies. Fyle’s intelligent expense management platform is designed to handle this complexity effortlessly.

Fyle helps you master Atlanta per diem and expense tracking:

  • Location-Specific Rate Automation: Fyle automatically applies the correct GSA per diem rates based on the specific county of travel. It can distinguish between the rates for downtown Atlanta (Fulton County) and nearby business centers in Cobb County, ensuring perfect accuracy.
  • Enforce Your Company’s Policy: Since your internal policy is the binding standard in Georgia, consistent enforcement is crucial. Fyle allows you to build your specific rules directly into the workflow, automatically flagging any submissions that are out of policy.
  • Real-Time Expense Capture: Empower your employees to report expenses on the go. A quick photo of a receipt from Fyle’s mobile app or a forwarded email is all it takes to create an expense entry, eliminating post-trip administrative work.
  • Proactive Compliance Engine: Fyle’s platform checks every expense against your policies before it gets submitted. This saves your finance team countless hours of manual review and ensures every expense report is accurate from the start.
  • IRS-Compliant Mileage Tracking: For employees driving around the Atlanta metro area, Fyle’s Google Maps-powered mileage tracker provides an easy and accurate way to log trips for reimbursement.
  • Direct Accounting Integration: Fyle syncs seamlessly with all major accounting software, including NetSuite, QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage Intacct. All approved per diem and travel data flows directly into your general ledger, saving time and ensuring financial accuracy.

With Fyle, you can confidently manage your Atlanta travel expense process, ensuring you meet your policy obligations while providing a modern, hassle-free experience for your employees.

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The content on this page is for informational use. As legal standards and per diem rates are subject to change, users should verify current details with official GSA or government resources. This information does not serve as financial or legal counsel.