New York Per Diem Allowance

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

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As a global center for finance, commerce, and culture, New York State, and particularly New York City, is a top destination for business travel. Navigating travel expenses in an environment known for its high costs requires a precise and well-understood approach. 

Per diem—the daily allowance for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses—is the standard method used by federal agencies and many private businesses to manage these costs effectively. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of the per diem rates for New York, essential state laws that every employer must know, and how you can automate this process for accuracy and ease.

New York Per Diem Rates

Per diem rates for official travel in New York are set by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). Given the state's varied economic landscape, rates differ dramatically between New York City and other regions. These GSA rates are mandatory for federal employees and serve as a crucial benchmark for private sector travel policies.

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

Major Metro Areas 

New York's major business and government centers have specific Non-Standard Area (NSA) rates.

  • New York City (The five boroughs: Manhattan, The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, & Staten Island):
    • M&IE: $92 per day
    • Lodging: Highly seasonal, with the following rates:
      • $342 per night (October - December & September)
      • $179 per night (January - February)
      • $281 per night (March - June)
      • $237 per night (July - August)
    • The first and last day of travel M&IE rate is $69.00.
  • Westchester County:
    • M&IE: $92 per day
    • Lodging: A flat rate of $161 per night.
  • Albany (Albany County):
    • M&IE: $86 per day
    • Lodging: A flat rate of $117 per night.

Tourist and High-Cost Areas 

High-cost suburbs and popular tourist destinations have their own unique, often seasonal, rates.

  • Long Island (Nassau & Suffolk Counties):
    • M&IE: $86 per day
    • Lodging: The lodging rate is $164 per night in Nassau County and $155 per night in Suffolk County, both of which are year-round.
  • Saratoga Springs (Saratoga County):
    • M&IE: $80 per day
    • Lodging: Seasonal, with rates peaking at $242 per night (July-August).

Standard CONUS Rate 

For any county in New York not specifically listed by the GSA as a Non-Standard Area (NSA), the standard CONUS rate applies. For FY 2025, this rate is $178 ($110 for lodging and $68 for M&IE).

New York Per Diem Rate Calculator

To get precise and up-to-date allowance information for your trip, our New York Per Diem Rate Calculator simplifies the process based on the official GSA schedule.

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Your per diem allowance

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Meals & Incidentals (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.

New York GSA Lodging Rates

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Some Important New York Per Diem Laws

Private employers in New York must adhere to state labor laws that provide strong protections for employees regarding expense reimbursement and wages.

  • Expense Reimbursement as "Wages" (New York Labor Law § 198-c): This is the most critical statute for employers. New York law defines "wage supplements" to include expense reimbursements promised in a company policy. This means that if your company has a policy to reimburse travel expenses or pay a per diem, that promise is legally binding and enforceable as wages.
  • Frequency of Pay: New York has strict rules on how often employees must be paid. Manual workers must generally be paid weekly, while clerical and other workers must be paid at least semi-monthly. Any promised reimbursements should also be paid in a timely manner according to these standards.
  • Tiered Minimum Wage: New York has a tiered minimum wage system that provides a strong floor of protection under the federal FLSA. As of January 1, 2025, the minimum wage is $17.00 per hour in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, and $16.00 per hour for the rest of the state. Unreimbursed business expenses cannot cause an employee's effective pay to fall below these rates.
  • Prohibited Deductions: New York law strictly limits what can be deducted from an employee's wages. An employer cannot unilaterally deduct the cost of a business expense from a paycheck.

New York Per Diem Laws vs Federal Law

The per diem framework for a private company employee in New York 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 New York.
  • New York Law: The NY Labor Law applies to private-sector employees, making any promised expense reimbursement a legally enforceable "wage supplement."

Rate Setting and Usage

  • Federal Law (GSA): The GSA sets specific, non-negotiable per diem rates for various locations in New York that federal agencies must use.
  • New York Law: The state does not set its own per diem rates. Private companies can create their own policies, but once established, they are legally binding. Many use GSA rates as a fair and defensible standard.

Legal Foundation

  • Federal Law (GSA): A comprehensive regulatory system designed to standardize and control government travel costs.
  • New York Law: Focuses on contract enforcement and employee protection. By classifying promised reimbursements as wage supplements, the law gives employees a strong legal path to recover any unpaid expenses.

How Fyle Can Automate Per Diem and Expense Tracking

Managing travel expenses in New York, with its high costs and varying regional rates, requires a system that is not only efficient but also ensures compliance with your legally binding policies. Fyle’s intelligent expense management platform is built to address this complexity.

Fyle helps you master New York per diem and expense tracking:

  • Automated and Accurate Rate Calculation: Fyle automatically applies the correct GSA per diem rates for any location in New York, from NYC to Albany. It instantly factors in seasonal lodging changes and the 75% M&IE rule for travel days, eliminating manual errors.
  • Enforce Your Binding Policy: Because your reimbursement policy is legally considered a wage supplement in New York, consistent enforcement is critical. Build your exact rules into Fyle’s policy engine to ensure every expense is checked for compliance before submission.
  • A Seamless Employee Experience: Make expense reporting effortless. Employees can instantly submit expenses with a photo of a receipt from Fyle’s mobile app or by forwarding a receipt from their email, allowing them to focus on their business, not administrative tasks.
  • Proactive Compliance Engine: Fyle’s AI-powered platform checks every expense against your policies in real-time. This proactive auditing prevents out-of-policy spending and saves your finance team countless hours of manual verification.
  • 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 New York travel expense process, ensuring you meet your legal obligations while providing a modern, hassle-free experience for your employees.

New York Meals and Incidental Rates

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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.