New York City Per Diem Calculator and Rates

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

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As a global capital of finance, media, arts, and diplomacy, New York City is one of the most important and frequented business travel destinations in the world. For any organization with employees traveling to the five boroughs, navigating the city's exceptionally high costs requires a clear, compliant, and efficient expense management strategy.

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 New York City, clarifies crucial state labor laws, and shows how you can automate the entire process.

New York City Per Diem Rate

Per diem rates for official travel in New York City are set by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). These federal rates are mandatory for federal employees and serve as an essential benchmark for private sector companies looking to establish a fair and IRS-compliant reimbursement policy in a high-cost environment.

For Fiscal Year 2025 (October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025), the rates for New York City are as follows:

New York City (Five Boroughs)

The GSA designates all five boroughs (Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, and Richmond counties) as a single Non-Standard Area (NSA) with some of the highest and most seasonally-variable rates in the country.

  • M&IE: $92 per day
  • Lodging: Highly seasonal, with rates fluctuating throughout the year:
    • $342 per night (Oct - Dec, Sep)
    • $281 per night (Mar - May)
    • $237 per night (Jul - Aug)
    • $179 per night (Jan - Feb)
  • The first and last day of travel, the M&IE rate is $69.00.

Standard CONUS Rate

For context, any county in New York State not specifically listed by the GSA uses the standard CONUS rate. This rate is significantly lower than that for New York City. For FY 2025, the standard rate is $178 ($110 for lodging and $68 for M&IE).

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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.

New York City GSA Lodging Rates

Financial year
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County
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New York City Meals and Incidental Rates

Financial year
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County
Daily M&IE Total
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Some Important New York City Per Diem Laws

All employers in New York City are governed by New York State Labor Law, which offers robust employee protections regarding business expenses.

  • Mandatory Expense Reimbursement Under Labor Law § 193: Unlike many states, New York law strictly prohibits employers from making unauthorized deductions from an employee's wages. This means companies cannot require employees to pay for necessary business travel costs out of their own pocket, as doing so would constitute an illegal deduction from their earned wages.
  • Using Per Diem To Satisfy Reimbursement Obligations: An employer can use a per diem allowance to satisfy its reimbursement obligation. However, because of the high costs in NYC, it is crucial that the allowance is sufficient to cover the actual expenses an employee would reasonably incur. If a per diem payment is less than the employee's actual necessary costs, the employer would likely be required to reimburse the difference to remain compliant with state law.

New York City Per Diem Laws vs Federal Law

It's crucial for employers in New York City 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 New York City. Private companies often use these rates as a benchmark for a reasonable reimbursement policy.
  • New York Law (Labor Law § 193): Mandatory for all private sector employers in New York State, including NYC. It establishes the duty to ensure employees do not have to pay for business expenses from their wages.

Rate Setting and Usage

  • Federal Law (GSA): Sets specific, non-negotiable per diem rates that federal agencies must use.
  • New York Law (Labor Law § 193): Does not set rates but requires that employees be kept whole. 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 to comply with the law.

Legal Focus

  • Federal Law (GSA): Aims to create a uniform, cost-controlled system for government travel.
  • New York Law (Labor Law § 193): Aims to protect employees' wages by ensuring they are not used to subsidize their employer's business costs.

How Fyle Can Automate Per Diem and Expense Tracking

In a city as fast-paced and expensive as New York, managing travel expenses demands a system built for precision, speed, and uncompromising compliance. Fyle’s intelligent expense management platform is designed to help your business thrive in this challenging environment.

Here’s how Fyle helps you master New York City travel expenses:

  • Automated Compliance With NYC’s High Costs: Fyle’s policy engine can be configured with New York City's complex seasonal GSA rates. It automatically checks expenses in real-time, flagging any out-of-policy submissions and ensuring your reimbursement process is always compliant.
  • Real-Time Expense Capture: Empower your employees to report expenses the moment they happen. A quick photo of a receipt from a taxi or a forwarded e-receipt from a client dinner is all it takes to create a verifiable expense entry, eliminating manual work.
  • Corporate Cards and Automated Reconciliation: Equip your team with Fyle’s smart corporate cards and get real-time visibility into spending. Fyle automatically reconciles card transactions, saving your finance team hours of manual work at the end of the month.
  • 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 ensuring financial accuracy.

With Fyle, you can manage your New York City travel expenses with confidence, ensuring you meet your legal obligations under New York law while providing a world-class 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.