St Louis Per Diem Calculator and Rates

Calculate St Louis' per diem rate based on GSA guidelines to simplify your business travels.

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As a major economic and cultural hub on the Mississippi River, St. Louis is a key destination for business travel in the Midwest. Home to major corporations, leading healthcare systems, and a vibrant research community, the city hosts a steady stream of professional visitors. 

For organizations with employees traveling to St. Louis, a clear understanding of per diem rates is essential for managing expenses effectively. This guide provides a detailed look at the per diem rates for St. Louis, important Missouri laws for employers, and how to simplify the reimbursement process.

St Louis Per Diem Rates

St. Louis 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:

St. Louis Area Rates (St. Louis City, St. Louis & St. Charles Counties)

  • M&IE: The Meals and Incidental Expenses rate is $86 per day.
  • Lodging: The maximum lodging allowance is a flat rate of $150 per night for the entire year.
  • 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.

It's important to note these rates apply to the City of St. Louis as well as all locations within St. Louis and St. Charles counties.

St Louis Per Diem Rate Calculator

To easily determine the correct allowance for your trip to St. Louis, our per diem calculator provides instant and 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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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.

St Louis GSA Lodging Rates

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St Louis Meals and Incidental Rates

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Some Important St Louis Per Diem Laws

Private employers in St. Louis are governed by Missouri state law, which has a distinct approach to employee expense reimbursement.

  • No State Law Mandating Expense Reimbursement: Missouri 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 reimbursement is not required 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.
  • Missouri Minimum Wage: Following the passage of Proposition A in 2024, Missouri's minimum wage is significantly higher than the federal standard. As of January 1, 2025, the rate is $13.75 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 Missouri's high minimum wage.

St Louis Per Diem Laws vs Federal Law

The per diem framework for a private company employee in St. Louis 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 St. Louis.
  • Missouri 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 St. Louis that federal agencies must use.
  • Missouri 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.
  • Missouri 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

For the high volume of business travel to a key Midwest hub like St. Louis, managing expenses efficiently is critical. A clear, consistently enforced policy is your best tool for compliance, and Fyle’s intelligent expense management platform is built to make that happen automatically.

Fyle helps you master St. Louis per diem and expense tracking:

  • Automated and Accurate Rate Application: Fyle automatically applies the correct $150 lodging and $86 M&IEGSA rates for St. Louis. The system instantly calculates the proper allowances, including the 75% M&IE rule for travel days, eliminating manual lookups.
  • Enforce Your Company’s Policy: Since your internal policy is the binding standard in Missouri, consistent enforcement is crucial. Build your specific rules for St. Louis 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 St. Louis 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 St. Louis 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.