The per diem allowances for U.S. military personnel for hotels in Guam and the islands of the Northern Mariana Islands have increased effective Sept. 1, according to the Aug. 25 Department of Defense notice in the federal register.
The three islands of the NMI — Saipan, Rota and Tinian — have seen their per diem for accommodation increase to $179, therefore the same as the rate for Guam for accommodation.
For Guam, the per diem for Meals increased to $111 and the per diem for Incidentals increased to $27, for a total allowable increase of Meals, Incidentals and Expenses to $138. The per diem for meals, incidentals and expenses is reviewed every three years and the lodging rate is reviewed every year.
According to Journal files, the per diem for Guam also increased in February 2025 to $179.
The per diem before then was $159 and had not increased since 2009, when then-Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo sought an increase. Sheila Baker, commercial director for the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa, told the Journal last year, “As a remote destination with higher import costs and limited alternatives, Guam faces unique challenges that should be considered when setting per diem rates.”
Mary P. Rhodes, president of the Guam Hotel & Restaurant Association, said last year that GHRA works closely with Guam’s elected officials and military partners to advocate for increases in the per diem for Guam. For more information on the per diem rates, see Military per diem increases to $179 boding well for the hotel industry. mbj
