Best Portland to Salem Movers

How Much Do Portland to Salem Movers Cost?

Moving 47 miles from Portland, OR to Salem, OR will typically cost between $2,000 and $4,500 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 Salem that already have a booked job heading from Salem to Portland. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Salem from Portland entirely empty. If you can find a Salem moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

Moving Containers: A cheaper Portland to Salem 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 Salem movers to unpack the container and move you into your new home. You'll have to piece this Portland to Salem 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 Salem 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, OR to Salem, OR long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

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

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 99 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Portland and Salem areas.

From these 99 companies, we analyzed a total of 25,479 reviews dating all the way back to November 2006.

We also reviewed a total of 29 state and federal moving licenses from these 99 companies and 417 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~25,000 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 5,813 Portland to Salem 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 Portland Move) vs older more established companies (like Priority Moving Services).

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The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

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

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

8.65/10 avg (Portland & Salem combined) from 13,837 reviews

Punctuality

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

8.35/10 avg (Portland & Salem combined) from 5,009 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

8.00/10 avg (Portland & Salem combined) from 2,495 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

7.94/10 avg (Portland & Salem combined) from 5,201 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

6.39/10 avg (Portland & Salem combined) from 1,284 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.72/10 avg (Portland & Salem combined) from 6,366 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.08/10 avg (Portland & Salem combined) from 8,311 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.41/10 avg (Portland & Salem combined) from 13,922 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.55/10 avg (Portland & Salem combined) from 7,591 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

4.62/10 avg (Portland & Salem combined) from 1,128 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.36/10 avg (Portland & Salem combined) from 6,341 reviews

From Portland to Salem: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Pearl District in Portland & Downtown Salem in Salem are both known for their urban core with shops & condos
• Portland's Alberta Arts District neighborhood & Salem's Downtown Salem both share an artsy district with cafes & murals
• If you're moving from Sellwood-Moreland, check out South Gateway in the Salem area for the family-friendly atmosphere with parks & older homes
• Do you enjoy Nob Hill's boutique shops & cafés? You're sure to love West Salem
• Move from Laurelhurst to South Gateway and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: tree-lined streets & family homes
• Woodstock & South Salem are both known for their suburban vibe with local shops & parks

Pros and Cons of Moving from Portland to Salem

ConsPortland, OR

• Higher living costs
• Denser traffic
• Fewer parking options
• Larger crowds

ProsSalem, OR

• More affordable housing
• Less congestion
• Easier parking
• Smaller, close-knit communities

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Salem, OR

• Quieter nightlife
• Less cultural venues
• Fewer job options
• More car dependence

Portland, OR

• Vibrant city life
• Rich cultural scene
• More job opportunities
• Better public transit

Pros of moving from Portland to Salem

• Say goodbye to higher living costs and hello to more affordable housing
• Look forward to moving away from denser traffic and moving to Salem with less congestion
• Swap the fewer parking options of Portland for easier parking in Salem
• Get ready for smaller, close-knit communities in Salem

Cons of moving from Portland to Salem

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the vibrant city life in Portland to live with the quieter nightlife in Salem
• You'll lose out on the pro of a rich cultural scene and have to settle for the con of fewer cultural venues
• Time to bid farewell to more job opportunities and get used to fewer job options in Salem
• Swap better public transit for more car dependence

Portland vs. Salem: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Portland to Salem, you will be trading the iconic Dungeness crab of Portland for the equally delicious Marionberry pie of Salem. And while the locals in Portland rave about their flavorful Pork belly and sumptuous Food cart tacos, Salem residents know they have tasty Prime rib and Hazelnut cart snacks to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tofu scramble they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Marionberry smoothie of Salem. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Portland eateries like Le Pigeon, Pok Pok, and Salt & Straw. After the boxes are unpacked in Salem, don't wait too long before making your way to Salem's acclaimed eateries like Word of Mouth Bistro, Busick Court, and Archive Coffee & Bar.

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

Discover Salem Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Salem 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 Pok Pok, Screen Door, and Ox in Portland, we're sure you'll love Best Little Roadhouse, Word of Mouth Bistro, and Willamette Valley Grill in Salem. See our Salem restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Portland hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at Nong's Khao Man Gai, head to Happy Bibimbap House on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Portland and Salem

• The Craftsman and Old Portland architecture that Portland is known for will be replaced with the Ranch and Craftsman architecture typical of Salem.
• Compared to Portland's real estate listings that commonly reference proximity to cafes and parks, Salem real estate listings often highlight features like family-friendly neighborhoods and large backyards.
• You can keep your walking shoes packed away since Salem is less walkable than Portland.
• You might want to think twice before moving your bike because Salem is less bike-friendly than Portland.
• Salem has less of an urban feel than Portland.
• Salem housing costs are 21% less expensive than they are in Portland, with a median home price of $427,534 compared to Portland’s $539,524.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Salem have increased by 44% compared to a 19% increase in Portland.
• Rent in Salem is 7.45% more affordable than in Portland.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Salem, OR

1. 1 West Salem: Easy access to the Orchard Heights Park off-leash area and riverfront paths at Wallace Marine Park, plus many homes with yards, make it great for pets.
2. 2 Fairmount Hill: Bordering Bush's Pasture Park with shady sidewalks and rolling hills for exercise, and offering easy access to the Minto Island Bridge into Minto-Brown Island Park, it's ideal for daily dog walks.
3. 3 South Gateway: Close to Cascades Gateway Park's off-leash dog area and lakeside trails, with plenty of newer housing that often includes pet amenities and nearby vets and pet supply stores.

Your Move, Your Forecast: Key Weather Differences between Portland and Salem

• Break out the sunglasses for your move from Portland to Salem. Salem gets 7% more sunshine days than Portland.
• Salem has higher humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Portland.
• Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and floods in Portland, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and floods in Salem.
• The average summer high temperature in Salem is 1 degree warmer than in Portland.
• The average winter lows are 1 degree colder than they are in Portland.
• Your umbrella might be more overworked in Salem. Salem receives 3 more inches of rain compared to Portland.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Portland and Salem

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Salem tend to earn about 19% less than in Portland
• The COLI in Salem is 1% lower than what you are used to living in Portland
• There's no change in state income tax between Portland and Salem
• The affluence in Salem is moderate compared to the relatively affluent in Portland
• The poverty level is significant in Salem compared to noticeable levels in Portland
• In terms of homelessness, it is high in Portland and increasing in Salem

Political and Religious Climate in Portland vs. Salem

• Portland tends to lean Liberal/Democratic in its political climate
• Salem, on the other hand, is often described as moderately Liberal/Democratic
• Salem's religious environment can be described as more Diverse Religious Communities
• Portland's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less Religiously Affiliated

Portland vs. Salem Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Woohoo! Expect to spend about 12% less time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Salem compared to your Portland daily drive. That's an annual savings of 1,560 minutes freely earned!
• You can expect traffic in Salem to be better than it is in Portland.
• Public transit is less readily available in Salem.