Per diem calculator by city

What you’re allowed per day, by city

A daily allowance benchmark by city, using the US State Department Foreign Per Diem rates, the most widely cited neutral standard. Treat it as a reference ceiling, not a typical figure: many companies, especially in SEA, set policies below it. Set your own tier caps below to build a policy you can adopt.

Your trip

Traveller tier SEA seniority ladder (“Executive” is a junior title): Executive < Management < C-level. Each tier is an editable % of the US State Dept benchmark ceiling — a starting point, not a figure we claim.

This tier’s allowance ✎ editable

% of benchmark

Day trip, same-day, no hotel No lodging; meals at 75% of the daily rate for the single travel day (41 CFR 301-11). Trips of 12 hours or less earn no per diem.

Show amounts in

Check a claim (optional) Enter what a traveller actually spent to see it against the allowance above.

Your allowance

LodgingMeals & incidentals

First and last day calculated at 75% of the meals rate, per the standard federal rule (41 CFR 301-11). Lodging is at the full nightly cap.

📄 Your free report is a ready-to-adopt policy

Benchmark rates for every destination, not just this city
An Executive / Management / C-level tier comparison
Worked examples of the 75% rule + a claims section to complete

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Estimating a whole trip, not just the daily allowance?

How we estimated this

This is an estimate for planning purposes only, not tax advice. Lodging taxes are additional and not included in the cap. Your company may set its own rates.

FAQ

What is a per diem?

A per diem is the fixed daily allowance a company pays an employee for lodging and meals while travelling on business, so costs are covered fairly and predictably without collecting every receipt.

Where do the per-diem rates come from?

The US State Department Foreign Per Diem rates (GSA rates for US cities), the most widely cited neutral benchmark. Treat them as a reference ceiling: many companies, especially in Southeast Asia, set policies below it.

What is the difference between a per diem and reimbursing actual expenses?

A per diem pays a fixed daily allowance regardless of actual spend, so there are no receipts to collect or check. Reimbursing actuals pays exact costs but needs every receipt. Many companies use per diems for meals and incidentals to cut admin.

Can I set different allowances by seniority?

Yes. The tool uses a Southeast-Asia seniority ladder (Executive, Management, C-level) as an editable percentage of the benchmark ceiling, so you can build a tiered policy.

How does the 75% first and last day rule work?

Under the US federal rule (41 CFR 301-11), the first and last travel day are each paid at 75% of the daily meals and incidentals rate. The calculator applies this automatically.

Are lodging taxes included in the cap?

No. The lodging figure is the room-rate cap; hotel taxes and service charges are additional, consistent with how the US State Department publishes the rates.