Boston Per Diem Calculator and Rates

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

Find my State   ↓

Trusted by 2000+ Customers

  • Aprio
  • Centric
  • Classic Collision
  • Datastax
  • Disruptive
  • E3 Environmental
  • Encore Enterprises
  • Keystone
  • May Mobility
  • Sprenger
  • TST Construction
  • Williams Homes

As a global leader in education, biotechnology, and finance, Boston is a top-tier destination for business travel, academic conferences, and corporate meetings. For any organization sending employees to this historic and high-cost city, a precise and compliant strategy for managing travel expenses is essential.

Per diem, a daily allowance for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses, offers a structured method for reimbursement. This guide provides a detailed look at the per diem rates for Boston, clarifies crucial Massachusetts labor laws, and shows how you can automate the entire process.

Boston Per Diem Rate

Per diem rates for official travel in Boston are set by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). These federal rates are mandatory for federal employees and serve as a common benchmark for private sector companies looking to create an IRS-compliant reimbursement policy.

For Fiscal Year 2025 (October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025), key rates for the Boston area are broken down as follows:

Boston & Cambridge Area

The heart of the metro area, including Boston, Cambridge, and all of Suffolk County, has some of the highest and most seasonally-variable rates in the nation.

  • Boston / Cambridge (Suffolk County & the City of Cambridge):
    • M&IE: $92 per day
    • Lodging: Highly seasonal, with peak rates of $349 per night (Oct, Sep) and rates as low as $209 per night in the winter.
  • Burlington / Woburn (Middlesex County, excluding Cambridge):
    • M&IE: $86 per day
    • Lodging: Seasonal, with rates of $178 per night (May-Oct) and $144 per night for all other months.

The first and last day of travel, the M&IE rate is $69.00 for Boston/Cambridge and $64.50 for the Burlington/Woburn area.

Standard CONUS Rate

For any county in Massachusetts 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).

Boston Per Diem Rate Calculator

Find the exact per diem allowance for your trip to Boston with our easy-to-use calculator. Select the fiscal year, choose your destination, and input your travel dates. The tool will instantly provide the correct seasonal lodging and M&IE rates based on the official GSA schedule.

{{ state.name }}
{{ county }}

Your per diem allowance

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

Boston GSA Lodging Rates

Financial year
{{ lodgingYear }}
{{ lastYear(lodgingYear) }}
{{ lodgingYear }}
County
{{ month }}
{{ result.county }}
{{ result.lodging[month] ? `$${result.lodging[month]}` : '' }}

Boston Meals and Incidental Rates

Financial year
{{ mealsYear }}
County
Daily M&IE Total
{{ result.county }}
{{ result.meals ? `$${result.meals}` : '' }}

Some Important Boston Per Diem Laws

All employers in Boston are governed by Massachusetts state laws that provide strong protections for employees regarding business expenses.

  • Required Reimbursement Under State Law: According to Massachusetts law (454 CMR 27.04(4)), an employee "shall be compensated for all travel time and shall be reimbursed for all transportation expenses." Furthermore, employers must reimburse any work-related expense that would cause an employee's effective earnings to fall below the state's minimum wage.
  • The Importance of A Clear and Sufficient Policy: Because reimbursement is legally required, it is crucial for employers to have a clear and comprehensive travel policy. Using per diem is a common way to satisfy this obligation, but the allowance must be sufficient to cover the costs an employee reasonably incurs. If the per diem is not enough, the employer may be liable for the difference.

Boston Per Diem Laws vs Federal Law

It's crucial for Massachusetts employers to understand how state law interacts with the federal per diem system.

Primary Applicability

  • Federal Law (GSA): Mandatory for U.S. federal government employees traveling to Boston. Private companies often use these rates as a benchmark for a reasonable reimbursement policy.
  • Massachusetts State Law: Mandatory for all private sector employers in Massachusetts. It establishes the duty to reimburse employees for necessary business expenses.

Rate Setting and Usage

  • Federal Law (GSA): Sets specific, non-negotiable per diem rates that federal agencies must use.
  • Massachusetts State Law: Does not set its own rates but requires that reimbursement be sufficient to cover actual, necessary costs. Using GSA rates is a common way to establish a policy that is presumed to be reasonable, but it does not remove the employer's obligation to cover higher actual costs if necessary.

Legal Focus

  • Federal Law (GSA): Aims to create a uniform, cost-controlled system for government travel.
  • Massachusetts State Law: Aims to protect employees' wages by ensuring they are not forced to pay for their employer's business costs.

How Fyle Can Automate Per Diem and Expense Tracking

In a high-cost, fast-paced city like Boston, managing travel expenses demands a system built for precision, compliance, and speed. Fyle’s intelligent expense management platform is designed to help innovative companies in the biotech, education, and financial sectors master this challenge.

Here’s how Fyle helps you conquer Boston travel expenses:

  • Automated Compliance with Massachusetts Law: Fyle’s powerful policy engine allows you to build your specific travel policies—whether based on GSA rates or actuals—directly into the workflow, ensuring every reimbursement is sufficient and compliant with state law.
  • Real-Time Expense Capture: Empower your employees to report expenses the moment they happen. A quick text of a receipt from a ride-share or a forwarded e-receipt from a client dinner is all it takes to create a verifiable expense entry, eliminating manual work.
  • Simplified Reconciliation for Your Existing Corporate Cards: Fyle integrates directly with your company's existing Visa, Mastercard, and American Express cards. It provides real-time transaction feeds and helps employees reconcile their card spending instantly, eliminating manual statement reviews.
  • Seamless Integration With Your Accounting System: Fyle connects directly with leading accounting platforms like NetSuite, QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage Intacct. All approved expense data flows straight to your general ledger, saving time and eliminating manual errors.

With Fyle, you can confidently manage your Boston travel expenses, ensuring you meet your legal obligations under Massachusetts law while providing a world-class experience for your employees.

ALAKAZARCACOCTDEFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMEMAMDMIMNMSMOMTNENVNHNJNMNYNCNDOHOKORPARISCSDTNTXUTVAVTWAWVWIWY

Your single platform for tracking per diems, mileage, receipts, and automating all expense reporting.

G2 Leader Winter 2025 badgeG2 High Performer Enterprise Winter 2025 badgeG2 Best Software 2025 – Top 100 Highest Satisfaction Products badgeG2 Best Software 2025 – Top 50 Accounting & Finance Products badgeG2 Momentum Leader Winter 2025 badgeG2 Most Implementable Mid-Market Winter 2025 badge
Learn more

Also Read

How Fyle helps traveling employees manage corporate travel management

Corporate Travel Management: Everything You Need to Know

Learn more
Fyle blog explaining all the tax rules for per diems

All the Tax Rules for Per Diems You Need to Know

Learn more
Fyle guide for managing business expenses

Business Travel Expenses: A Guide to Management, Calculation, Tax Deductions & More

Learn more

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.