Mexico: as of November 12, 2026, the US State Department's maximum per diem for Oaxaca is $349 a day, made up of $245 for lodging and $104 for meals and incidental expenses. Anywhere in the country without its own rate falls under “Other”: $256 a day ($141 lodging, $115 meals and incidentals). Rates are set for 42 separate locations.
Per day, in US dollars. Effective Nov 1, 2026.
Actual hotel cost is reimbursed up to this amount per night.
Per diem is a ceiling, not a typical spend. Our own model puts a comfortable day of travel in this country at about $231 per person and a mid-range day at $99. See what Mexico costs right now
| Location | Season | Lodging | Meals & incidentals | Total | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acapulco | All year | $283 | $148 | $431 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Campeche | All year | $175 | $77 | $252 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Cancun | All year | $287 | $135 | $422 | Aug 1, 2024 |
| Chihuahua | All year | $121 | $92 | $213 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Ciudad Juarez | All year | $168 | $90 | $258 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Ciudad Victoria | All year | $96 | $55 | $151 | May 1, 2004 |
| Colima | All year | $119 | $76 | $195 | Oct 1, 2013 |
| Cozumel | All year | $182 | $105 | $287 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Cuernavaca | All year | $203 | $107 | $310 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Culiacan | All year | $134 | $123 | $257 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Ensenada | All year | $241 | $123 | $364 | Aug 1, 2024 |
| Guadalajara | All year | $241 | $126 | $367 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Hermosillo | All year | $116 | $122 | $238 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Huatulco | All year | $297 | $113 | $410 | Aug 1, 2024 |
| Ixtapa Zihuatanejo | All year | $226 | $122 | $348 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| La Paz | All year | $202 | $93 | $295 | Aug 1, 2024 |
| Los Cabos (Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo) | All year | $272 | $112 | $384 | Aug 1, 2024 |
| Manzanillo | 07/01 – 11/30 | $226 | $108 | $334 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| 12/01 – 06/30 | $282 | $114 | $396 | Nov 1, 2026 | |
| Matamoros | All year | $88 | $90 | $178 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Mazatlan | All year | $130 | $127 | $257 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Merida | All year | $184 | $115 | $299 | Nov 1, 2024 |
| Mexicali | All year | $182 | $116 | $298 | Aug 1, 2024 |
| Mexico City, D.F. | All year | $250 | $132 | $382 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Monterrey | All year | $295 | $153 | $448 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Morelia | All year | $175 | $102 | $277 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Nogales | All year | $125 | $93 | $218 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Nuevo Laredo | All year | $107 | $101 | $208 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Oaxaca | All year | $245 | $104 | $349 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo | All year | $164 | $98 | $262 | Aug 1, 2024 |
| Puebla | All year | $203 | $107 | $310 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Puerto Penasco | All year | $241 | $121 | $362 | Dec 1, 2016 |
| Puerto Vallarta | All year | $243 | $129 | $372 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Queretaro | All year | $210 | $128 | $338 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| San Carlos | All year | $129 | $96 | $225 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| San Luis Potosi | All year | $160 | $102 | $262 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| San Miguel de Allende | All year | $210 | $128 | $338 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Tapachula | All year | $80 | $77 | $157 | Jul 1, 2024 |
| Tijuana | All year | $193 | $105 | $298 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Valle del Bravo | All year | $281 | $106 | $387 | Nov 1, 2024 |
| Veracruz | All year | $120 | $103 | $223 | Aug 1, 2024 |
| Zacatecas | All year | $171 | $90 | $261 | Nov 1, 2026 |
| Other (everywhere else) | All year | $141 | $115 | $256 | Nov 1, 2026 |
Source: US Department of State, Office of Allowances, foreign per diem rates, retrieved November 13, 2026. Rates are published in US dollars and revised on the first of each month; where a location has seasons, the row that applies today is shown in full strength. Confirm against the official table before filing an expense claim.
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