Nashville Per Diem Calculator and Rates

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

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As a vibrant hub for music, healthcare, and corporate business, Nashville is one of the fastest-growing destinations for travel in the United States. For any organization sending employees to "Music City," having a clear and efficient method for handling travel expenses is essential. 

Per diem, a daily allowance covering lodging, meals, and incidental costs, is the federal government's standard and a widely adopted best practice for private companies. This guide provides a detailed overview of the per diem rates for Nashville, important Tennessee laws, and how you can automate the reimbursement process.

Nashville Per Diem Rates

Nashville is designated as a Non-Standard Area (NSA) by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), which means it has its own specific per diem rates that are higher than the standard U.S. rate. These rates are mandatory for federal employees and are commonly used as a benchmark by private businesses.

For Fiscal Year 2025 (October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025), the per diem rates for Nashville (Davidson County) are as follows:

Nashville Area Rates (Davidson County)

  • M&IE: The Meals and Incidental Expenses rate is $86 per day.
  • Lodging: The maximum lodging allowance has seasonal variations:
    • $248 per night for the peak seasons (October & September).
    • $217 per night for the rest of the year (November - August).
  • First and Last Day of Travel: On the first and last day of a trip, the M&IE allowance is calculated at 75% of the full daily rate, which amounts to $64.50.

Nashville Per Diem Rate Calculator

To find the precise per diem allowance for your trip to Nashville, 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.

Nashville GSA Lodging Rates

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County
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Nashville Meals and Incidental Rates

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Daily M&IE Total
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Some Important Nashville Per Diem Laws

Private employers in Nashville are governed by Tennessee state law, which has a distinct "employment-at-will" approach that extends to expense reimbursement.

  • No State Law Mandating Expense Reimbursement: Tennessee 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 as a Binding Agreement: 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: Tennessee does not have a state minimum wage, so it defaults 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.

Nashville Per Diem Laws vs Federal Law

The per diem framework for a private company employee in Nashville 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 Nashville.
  • Tennessee 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 Nashville that federal agencies must use.
  • Tennessee 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.
  • Tennessee Law: Focuses on upholding employment agreements. If a company promises reimbursement, it is expected to adhere to its policy.

How Fyle Can Automate Per Diem and Expense Tracking

With Nashville's status as a top destination for tourism and business, managing travel expenses—especially with seasonal rate changes—requires a system that is efficient, accurate, and compliant with your company policies.

Fyle’s intelligent expense management platform is built to handle these challenges seamlessly:

  • Automated and Accurate Rate Application: Fyle automatically applies the correct GSA per diem rates for Nashville, instantly factoring in seasonal lodging changes and the 75% M&IE rule for travel days. This eliminates manual lookups and errors.
  • Enforce Your Company’s Policy: Since your internal policy is the binding standard in Tennessee, consistent enforcement is crucial. Build your specific rules for Nashville travel directly into Fyle’s policy engine to ensure every expense is checked for compliance.
  • 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 who may drive for business in the Nashville 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 Nashville 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.