Best Portland to San Francisco Movers

How Much Do Portland to San Francisco Movers Cost?

Moving 3,246 miles from Portland, ME to San Francisco, CA will typically cost between $4,500 and $11,000 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 San Francisco that already have a booked job heading from San Francisco to Portland. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to San Francisco from Portland entirely empty. If you can find a San Francisco moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

Moving Containers: A cheaper Portland to San Francisco moving option

Hire local Portland 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 San Francisco movers to unpack the container and move you into your new home. You'll have to piece this Portland to San Francisco 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 Portland to San Francisco 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 Portland, ME to San Francisco, CA long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

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

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 18 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Portland and San Francisco areas.

From these 18 companies, we analyzed a total of 4,281 reviews dating all the way back to August 2005.

We also reviewed a total of 6 state and federal moving licenses from these 18 companies and 85 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~4,000 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 1,694 Portland to San Francisco 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 OCD Moving Services LLC) vs older more established companies (like SC Moving Services).

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The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

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

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

8.63/10 avg (Portland & San Francisco combined) from 2,742 reviews

Punctuality

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

8.56/10 avg (Portland & San Francisco combined) from 1,176 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

7.88/10 avg (Portland & San Francisco combined) from 601 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

8.27/10 avg (Portland & San Francisco combined) from 1,246 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

7.11/10 avg (Portland & San Francisco combined) from 473 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.88/10 avg (Portland & San Francisco combined) from 1,247 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.16/10 avg (Portland & San Francisco combined) from 1,691 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.47/10 avg (Portland & San Francisco combined) from 2,747 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.65/10 avg (Portland & San Francisco combined) from 1,680 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

5.22/10 avg (Portland & San Francisco combined) from 261 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.43/10 avg (Portland & San Francisco combined) from 1,563 reviews

From Portland to San Francisco: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Old Port in Portland & Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco are both known for their historic waterfront with shops and nightlife
• Portland's Munjoy Hill neighborhood & San Francisco's Bernal Heights both share a hilly residential area with views and local eateries
• If you're moving from West End, check out Pacific Heights in the San Francisco area for the tree-lined streets with Victorian homes
• Do you enjoy Arts District's vibrant arts scene with galleries and murals? You're sure to love Mission District
• Move from East End to Mission Bay and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: former industrial waterfront turned modern housing
• Rosemont & Sunset District are both known for their quiet, family-friendly residential neighborhoods
• Portland's Deering Center neighborhood & San Francisco's Noe Valley neighborhood both have a suburban feel with a strong sense of community
• If you're moving from Bayside, look into SOMA for the mixed-use area near campus and growing development
• Do you cherish living in Back Cove's waterfront trail with scenic views and recreation? Move into Crissy Field for something similar
• The similar vibes of North Deering & Bayview are both known for their outskirts with industrial roots and working-class vibe

Pros and Cons of Moving from Portland to San Francisco

ConsPortland, ME

• Harsh winters
• Limited job market
• Small city vibe
• Fewer shopping options
• Less diverse population

ProsSan Francisco, CA

• Mild climate
• Thriving tech scene
• Vibrant cultural life
• Extensive shopping centers
• Rich diversity

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San Francisco, CA

• Foggy overcast weather
• High cost of living
• Heavy traffic
• More crowded spaces
• Higher crime rate

Portland, ME

• Coastal charm
• Community feel
• Less traffic congestion
• Proximity to nature
• Lower crime rate

Pros of moving from Portland to San Francisco

• Say goodbye to harsh winters and hello to a mild climate
• Look forward to moving away from a limited job market and moving to San Francisco with a thriving tech scene
• Swap the small city vibe of Portland for a vibrant cultural life in San Francisco
• Get ready for extensive shopping centers in San Francisco

Cons of moving from Portland to San Francisco

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the coastal charm in Portland to live with foggy overcast weather in San Francisco
• You'll lose out on the pro of a community feel and have to settle for the con of a high cost of living
• Time to bid farewell to less traffic congestion and get used to heavy traffic in San Francisco
• Swap proximity to nature for more crowded spaces

Portland vs. San Francisco: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Portland to San Francisco, you will be trading the iconic Lobster Roll of Portland for the equally delicious Sourdough Bread of San Francisco. And while the locals in Portland rave about their flavorful Duck Confit and sumptuous Poutine, San Francisco residents know they have tasty Cioppino and Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Vegan Chowder they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Buddha Bowl of San Francisco. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Portland eateries like Fore Street, Eventide Oyster Co., and Street & Co.. After the boxes are unpacked in San Francisco, don't wait too long before making your way to San Francisco's acclaimed eateries like Zuni Café, State Bird Provisions, and Tartine Bakery.

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

Discover San Francisco Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to San Francisco is an opportunity to try lots of new restaurants. Sure, you'll miss your old Portland favorites, but we've got you covered. If you loved Fore Street, Eventide Oyster Co., and Boda in Portland, we're sure you'll love State Bird Provisions, Swan Oyster Depot, and Liholiho Yacht Club in San Francisco. See our San Francisco restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Portland hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at The Honey Paw, head to Nopalito on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Portland and San Francisco

• The Colonial architecture that Portland is known for will be replaced with the Victorian architecture typical of San Francisco.
• Compared to Portland's real estate listings that commonly reference waterfront views, San Francisco real estate listings often highlight features like city views.
• Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. San Francisco is more walkable than Portland.
• You might want to think twice before moving your bike. San Francisco is less bike-friendly than Portland.
• San Francisco has more of an urban feel than Portland.
• San Francisco housing costs are 135% more expensive than they are in Portland, with a median home price of $1,290,678 compared to Portland’s $548,318.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in San Francisco have decreased by 4% compared to a 64% increase in Portland.
• Rent in San Francisco is 46.26% more expensive than in Portland.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in San Francisco, CA

1. Pacific Heights : You'll love Pacific Heights for its abundance of parks and scenic walking trails perfect for you and your furry friend.
2. Noe Valley : Enjoy Noe Valley's welcoming community vibe and the pet-friendly stores and cafes that cater to every pet need.
3. The Mission District : Known for its vibrant and lively atmosphere, The Mission District offers numerous dog parks and pet-friendly patios for you and your pet to explore.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Portland and San Francisco

• Break out the sunglasses for your move from Portland to San Francisco. San Francisco gets 28% more sunshine days than Portland.
• San Francisco has higher humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Portland.
• Say goodbye to the possible winter storms in Portland and be on the lookout for potential earthquakes in San Francisco.
• Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in San Francisco is 11 degrees colder than in Portland.
• The average winter lows are 30 degrees warmer than they are in Portland.
• Your umbrella might be neglected in San Francisco. San Francisco receives 24 fewer inches of rain compared to Portland.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Portland and San Francisco

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in San Francisco tend to earn about 73% more than those in Portland
• The COLI in San Francisco is 41% higher than what you are used to living in Portland
• The state income tax in CA is 13.3% compared to 7.15% in ME
• The affluence in San Francisco is high compared to moderate affluence in Portland
• The poverty level is noticeable in San Francisco compared to moderate poverty in Portland
• In terms of homelessness, it is low in Portland and high in San Francisco

Political and Religious Climate in Portland vs. San Francisco

• Portland tends to lean Liberal in its political climate
• San Francisco, on the other hand, is often described as very Liberal
• San Francisco's religious environment can be described as religiously Diverse
• Portland's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as Christian Majority

Portland vs. San Francisco Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Bummer! Looks like you might end up spending about 59% more time stuck in traffic commuting to work in San Francisco compared to your Portland commute. That's 6760 minutes lost each year in a car.
• You can expect traffic in San Francisco to be worse than it is in Portland.
• Public transit is more readily available in San Francisco.