As a world-renowned destination for culture, cuisine, music, and major conventions, New Orleans is a unique and vital hub for business travel. For any organization with employees traveling to the Crescent City, a clear strategy for managing expenses is essential.
Per diem, a daily allowance covering lodging, meals, and incidental costs, provides a streamlined way to handle reimbursements. This guide offers a detailed look at the official per diem rates for New Orleans, important Louisiana laws for employers, and how to automate the entire process for accuracy and compliance.
New Orleans Per Diem Rates
New Orleans 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 widely used as a benchmark by private companies.
For Fiscal Year 2025 (October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025), the rates are as follows:
New Orleans Area Rates (Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, & St. Bernard Parishes)
- M&IE: The Meals and Incidental Expenses rate is $86 per day.
- Lodging: The maximum lodging allowance is highly seasonal, reflecting the city's event and tourist calendar:
- $249 per night for the peak season (February - May).
- $160 per night (October - January).
- $144 per night for the summer season (June - September).
- 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.
New Orleans Per Diem Rate Calculator
To easily determine the correct allowance for your trip to New Orleans, our per diem calculator provides instant and accurate results based on the official GSA schedule.