Best Des Moines to Portland Movers

How Much Do Des Moines to Portland Movers Cost?

Moving 1,900 miles from Des Moines, IA to Portland, OR will typically cost between $3,500 and $8,000 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.

Pro tip for the cheapest long distance move

Find long distance movers in Portland that already have a booked job heading from Portland to Des Moines. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Portland from Des Moines entirely empty. If you can find a Portland moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

Moving Containers: A cheaper Des Moines to Portland moving option

Hire local Des Moines movers for the pickup location at an hourly rate. They can quickly load your moving container. When your container is dropped off at your new home, hire Portland movers to unpack the container and move you into your new home. You'll have to piece this Des Moines to Portland move together yourself with at least 3 different companies. Taking on this scheduling responsibility will save you a little money by moving with this strategy.

How we ranked the top Des Moines to Portland movers

Why you should trust us

We take reviews seriously to protect people just like you! Our team has been crunching data on moving companies since 2010. Our math-based ranking system uses data, manual review, and statistical analysis to help you hire the best Des Moines, IA to Portland, OR long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

Here's the methodology we used to come up with the best movers for the Des Moines to Portland moving route:

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 24 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Des Moines and Portland areas.

From these 24 companies, we analyzed a total of 8,483 reviews dating all the way back to February 2009.

We also reviewed a total of 15 state and federal moving licenses from these 24 companies and 120 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~8,000 reviews was scored according to our detailed 11-point rating criteria

Reviews are time-weighted so that more recent reviews carry more weight. This helps you understand how a mover is doing today... not 5 years ago. We have 1,348 Des Moines to Portland moving company data points from the past 2 years that carry more weight.

Bayesian averages calculated to fairly account for the differences between companies that are newer(like Northwest Grace Moving) vs older more established companies (like Best Move Inc).

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The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

Our 11-point rating criteria scores every Des Moines to Portland moving company across 11 of the most important criteria for a succesful moving experience.

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

9.10/10 avg (Des Moines & Portland combined) from 4,747 reviews

Punctuality

Did the crew show up on-time with the required equipment?

8.73/10 avg (Des Moines & Portland combined) from 1,536 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

8.20/10 avg (Des Moines & Portland combined) from 686 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

8.65/10 avg (Des Moines & Portland combined) from 1,688 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

6.90/10 avg (Des Moines & Portland combined) from 399 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

9.24/10 avg (Des Moines & Portland combined) from 2,084 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.42/10 avg (Des Moines & Portland combined) from 2,905 reviews

Will Hire Again

How likely a customer is to hire the same movers again.

8.93/10 avg (Des Moines & Portland combined) from 4,690 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

9.02/10 avg (Des Moines & Portland combined) from 2,690 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

5.62/10 avg (Des Moines & Portland combined) from 320 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

9.03/10 avg (Des Moines & Portland combined) from 2,325 reviews

From Des Moines to Portland: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• East Village in Des Moines & Pearl District in Portland are both known for their: local eateries & bustling nightlife
• Des Moines' Sherman Hill neighborhood & Portland's Irvington both share: historic districts with Victorian & craftsman homes
• If you're moving from Beaverdale, check out Sellwood-Moreland in the Portland area for the: family-friendly area with local shops
• Do you enjoy Drake's college-town vibe & student housing? You're sure to love University Park
• Move from Ingersoll Park to Central Eastside and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: industrial-turned-breweries & creative spaces
• Woodland Heights & Eastmoreland are both known for their: tree-lined residential streets
• Des Moines' River Bend neighborhood & Portland's River District neighborhood both have: riverfront homes & urban redevelopment
• If you're moving from North Des Moines, look into Kenton for the: working-class roots with gentrification

Pros and Cons of Moving from Des Moines to Portland

ConsDes Moines, IA

• Less cultural diversity
• Harsher winters
• Smaller job market
• Fewer public transit options
• Limited dining variety

ProsPortland, OR

• Rich cultural diversity
• Milder winters
• Larger job market
• Extensive public transit
• Vast dining options

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Portland, OR

• Higher cost of living
• Big city feel
• More traffic
• Challenging navigation
• Less personal

Des Moines, IA

• Lower cost of living
• Small-town feel
• Less traffic congestion
• Easy navigation
• Community-oriented

Pros of moving from Des Moines to Portland

• Say goodbye to less cultural diversity and hello to rich cultural diversity
• Look forward to moving away from harsher winters and moving to Portland with milder winters
• Swap the smaller job market of Des Moines for the larger job market in Portland
• Get ready for extensive public transit in Portland

Cons of moving from Des Moines to Portland

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the lower cost of living in Des Moines to live with the higher cost of living in Portland
• You'll lose out on the pro of a small-town feel and have to settle for the con of a big city feel
• Time to bid farewell to less traffic congestion and get used to more traffic in Portland
• Swap easy navigation for challenging navigation

Des Moines vs. Portland: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Des Moines to Portland, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Des Moines for the equally delicious Dungeness Crab of Portland. And while the locals in Des Moines rave about their flavorful Iowa Pork Chop and sumptuous Taco Trucks, Portland residents know they have tasty Smoked Brisket and Food Carts Serving Global Cuisine to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tempeh Reuben they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Plant-Based Bowls of Portland. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Des Moines eateries like Centro, Zombie Burger, and Fong's Pizza. After the boxes are unpacked in Portland, don't wait too long before making your way to Portland's acclaimed eateries like Pok Pok, Salt and Straw, and Apizza Schools.

When comparing lifestyles, Portland shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Des Moines. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Portland compared to what you are used to in Des Moines. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Portland.

Discover Portland Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Portland is an opportunity to try lots of new restaurants. Sure, you'll miss your old Des Moines favorites, but we've got you covered. If you loved Centro, Fong's Pizza, and Zombie Burger in Des Moines, we're sure you'll love Ox, Hot Lips Pizza, and Killer Burger in Portland. See our Portland restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Des Moines hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at La Mie, head to Ken's Artisan Bakery on your first Friday night after the boxes unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Des Moines and Portland

• The Ranch and Craftsman architecture that Des Moines is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Modern architecture typical of Portland.
• Compared to Des Moines's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and proximity to schools, Portland real estate listings often highlight features like eco-friendly upgrades and access to public transportation.
• Make sure you unpack those walking shoes; Portland is more walkable than Des Moines.
• Make sure the movers take care of your bike; Portland is more bike-friendly than Des Moines.
• Portland has more of an urban feel than Des Moines.
• Portland housing costs are 170% more expensive than they are in Des Moines, with a median home price of $539,524 compared to Des Moines’s $199,739.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Portland have increased by 19% compared to a 38% increase in Des Moines.
• Rent in Portland is 62.72% more expensive than it is in Des Moines.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Portland, OR

1. 1 Pearl District: Packed with pet-friendly apartments, patios, and services, plus The Fields Park off-leash area for easy urban romps.
2. 2 Sellwood-Moreland: Offers a relaxed, walkable vibe with the Sellwood Riverfront Park off-leash area and many dog-welcoming local shops and cafes.
3. 3 Northwest District (Nob Hill): Close to Forest Park's extensive trails and home to multiple off-leash spots and pet-friendly patios for daily outings.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Des Moines and Portland

• The shades won't be used as much for your move from Des Moines to Portland. Portland gets 30% fewer sunshine days than Des Moines.
• Portland has similar humidity and a lower average UV index compared to Des Moines.
• Say goodbye to the possible tornadoes and blizzards in Des Moines, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and floods in Portland.
• Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Portland is 5 degrees colder than in Des Moines.
• The average winter lows in Portland are 19 degrees warmer than they are in Des Moines.
• Your umbrella might be more overworked in Portland. Portland receives 7 more inches of rain compared to Des Moines.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Des Moines and Portland

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Portland tend to earn about 30% more than in Des Moines
• The COLI in Portland is 22% higher than what you are used to living in Des Moines
• The state income tax in OR is up to 9.9% compared to up to 8.98% in IA
• The affluence in Portland is high compared to moderate in Des Moines
• The poverty level is medium in Portland compared to low in Des Moines
• In terms of homelessness, it is low in Des Moines and high in Portland

Des Moines vs. Portland Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Bummer! Looks like you might end up spending about 25% more time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Portland compared to your Des Moines commute. That's 2600 minutes lost each year in a car.
• You can expect traffic in Portland to be worse than it is in Des Moines.
• Public transit is more readily available in Portland.