Minnesota Per Diem Allowance

Calculate Minnesota’s per diem rate based on GSA guidelines to simplify your business travels.

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As a key economic engine in the Upper Midwest, Minnesota is a frequent destination for business travel, drawing visitors to the corporate headquarters of the Twin Cities, the medical innovation hub in Rochester, and its beautiful northern tourism regions. Managing travel expenses across the state requires a clear and compliant per diem policy. 

Per diem, a daily allowance for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses, is the federal standard and a best practice for private businesses. This guide offers a detailed overview of Minnesota's per diem rates, the state's important employee-protective laws, and how to automate the reimbursement process for accuracy and efficiency.

Minnesota Per Diem Rates

Per diem rates for official travel in Minnesota are set by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). These rates are mandatory for federal employees and serve as a crucial benchmark for private companies, especially given Minnesota's own laws on expense reimbursement. The rates vary, with the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area and Duluth having higher, seasonal rates.

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

Major Metro Areas 

The state's primary business and medical centers have specific Non-Standard Area (NSA) rates.

  • Minneapolis / St. Paul (Hennepin & Ramsey Counties):
    • M&IE: $92 per day
    • Lodging: A flat rate of $148 per night.
    • The first and last day of travel M&IE rate is $69.00.
  • Rochester (Olmsted County):
    • M&IE: $80 per day
    • Lodging: A flat rate of $127 per night.

Tourist and High-Cost Areas 

Key tourist destinations like Duluth have their own unique, seasonal rates.

  • Duluth (St. Louis County):
    • M&IE: $86 per day
    • Lodging: Seasonal, with a peak rate of $220 per night (June-October) and an off-season rate of $159 per night (November-May).

Standard CONUS Rate 

For any county in Minnesota 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).

Minnesota Per Diem Rate Calculator

To find the precise per diem allowance for your trip anywhere in Minnesota, our calculator provides instant, accurate results based on the official GSA schedule.

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Your per diem allowance

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Lodging (L)
Meals & Incidentals (M&IE)
Total (L + M&IE)
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Meals & Incidentals (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.

Minnesota GSA Lodging Rates

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Minnesota Meals and Incidental Rates

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Some Important Minnesota Per Diem Laws

Minnesota has strong employee protection laws regarding wages and expenses that all private employers must follow.

  • Mandatory Expense Reimbursement: Minnesota law requires employers to reimburse employees for necessary business expenses. The law explicitly states that employers must pay for "uniforms or specially-designed clothing required by the employer," and for "purchased or rented equipment" used in the course of employment. This legal principle is broadly interpreted to include other necessary costs incurred by an employee for the employer's benefit, such as business travel expenses.
  • Strict Rules on Wage Deductions: Minnesota law strictly limits what can be deducted from an employee's wages. An employer cannot deduct the cost of a business expense from an employee's paycheck unless there is a valid, specific written agreement. Forcing an employee to bear these costs is generally not permissible.
  • Tiered Minimum Wage: Minnesota has a tiered minimum wage. As of January 1, 2025, the state minimum wage will be $11.13 per hour for all employers. This provides a high floor of protection, as unreimbursed expenses cannot cause an employee's effective wage to fall below this rate.

Minnesota Per Diem Laws vs Federal Law

The legal framework in Minnesota is unique because both state and federal laws create strong obligations for employers.

Primary Applicability

  • Federal Law (GSA): Mandatory for all U.S. federal government employees on official business in Minnesota.
  • Minnesota Law: Mandatory for almost all private-sector employees, requiring employers to reimburse necessary business expenses.

Rate Setting and Usage

  • Federal Law (GSA): The GSA sets specific, non-negotiable per diem rates for various locations in Minnesota that federal agencies must use.
  • Minnesota Law: The state does not set its own per diem rates, but it does require reimbursement. Therefore, employers must use a method (like paying actual costs or using a per diem system) that fully covers the employee's necessary expenses. Using the GSA rates is a very common and highly defensible way to meet this legal requirement.

Legal Foundation

  • Federal Law (GSA): A comprehensive regulatory system designed to standardize and control government travel costs.
  • Minnesota Law: A protective framework ensuring employees are not forced to subsidize their employer’s business operations by paying for travel or other necessary expenses out of their own pockets.

How Fyle Can Automate Per Diem and Expense Tracking

Given Minnesota's mandatory reimbursement laws and varied travel costs, an automated expense management system is a critical compliance tool for any business. Fyle’s platform ensures your company meets its legal obligations while simplifying the process for everyone.

Fyle helps you master Minnesota per diem and expense tracking:

  • Ensure Full Compliance: With Minnesota law requiring reimbursement, Fyle helps you create an accountable plan. It automatically applies the correct GSA rates for any destination, from the Twin Cities to Duluth, ensuring your per diem policy is fair, consistent, and meets legal standards.
  • Automated and Accurate Rate Calculation: Fyle eliminates manual errors by instantly calculating the correct per diem based on travel location and dates, including Minnesota's seasonal rates and the 75% M&IE rule.
  • Effortless Expense Submissions: Empower your employees to report expenses in real-time. A simple photo of a receipt from Fyle’s mobile app or a forwarded email is all it takes to create an expense entry, making compliance easy for your traveling team.
  • Proactive Policy Enforcement: Build your travel policy directly into Fyle. The platform acts as your first line of defense, checking every expense against your rules before submission, preventing out-of-policy spend and reducing the burden on your finance team.
  • IRS-Compliant Mileage Tracking: For employees driving across the state, Fyle’s Google Maps-powered mileage tracker offers an easy and accurate way to log trips, ensuring compliant records 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 Minnesota travel expense process, ensuring you meet your legal 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.