If you want to know how expensive your trip might be—even within the United States—it might help to see what U.S. corporations are paying their employees on a per diem basis during business travel.
The most expensive U.S. city?
It’s San Francisco, where the average per diem for a hotel, car, and food is a whopping $547.
New York comes in second at $523.
It’s followed by Boston, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.
Want a more reasonable travel budget?
Look at the Midwest and cities like Grand Rapids, Madison, or Columbus. There, the per diems average about $300.
Or you can head to Florida, where the average per diem in Tampa, Sarasota, and even Orlando, drops to under $300.
Other cities in that range? Richmond, Virginia; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Knoxville, Tennessee.
Remember, this is for business travel, so you can probably do even better.
But this is still a good guide to prepare against sticker shock.
For more information about money and travel, check out:
- How the U.S. Dollar is Making Travel More Affordable
- Why You Travel Budget Should Include ATM Fees
- The Problem With Unused Vacation Days
Keep reading for more travel tips.
