Best Salem to Portland Movers

How Much Do Salem to Portland Movers Cost?

Moving 48 miles from Salem, OR to Portland, 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 Portland that already have a booked job heading from Portland to Salem. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Portland from Salem 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 Salem to Portland moving option

Hire local Salem 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 Salem 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 Salem 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 Salem, OR to Portland, OR long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

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

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 95 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Salem and Portland areas.

From these 95 companies, we analyzed a total of 24,226 reviews dating all the way back to November 2006.

We also reviewed a total of 28 state and federal moving licenses from these 95 companies and 401 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~24,000 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 7,614 Salem 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 Portland Move) vs older more established companies (like All Service Moving).

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The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

Our 11-point rating criteria scores every Salem 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.

8.69/10 avg (Salem & Portland combined) from 13,273 reviews

Punctuality

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

8.38/10 avg (Salem & Portland combined) from 4,784 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

8.04/10 avg (Salem & Portland combined) from 2,392 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

7.97/10 avg (Salem & Portland combined) from 5,008 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

6.39/10 avg (Salem & Portland combined) from 1,197 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.76/10 avg (Salem & Portland combined) from 6,119 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.11/10 avg (Salem & Portland combined) from 8,013 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.45/10 avg (Salem & Portland combined) from 13,345 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.59/10 avg (Salem & Portland combined) from 7,306 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

4.63/10 avg (Salem & Portland combined) from 1,068 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.38/10 avg (Salem & Portland combined) from 6,043 reviews

From Salem to Portland: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• West Salem in Salem & Sylvan-Highlands in Portland are both known for their: hilly suburb with scenic views
• Salem's Sunnyslope neighborhood & Portland's West Hills both share: newer hilltop homes, residential
• If you're moving from South Salem, check out Sellwood-Moreland in the Portland area for the: family-friendly, parks & local shops
• Do you enjoy Lancaster's affordable older homes and community feel? You're sure to love St. Johns
• Move from South Gateway to Gateway and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: retail corridor, big-box stores, transit
• Highland & Hazelwood are both known for their: quiet suburban and mid-century residences
• Salem's East Salem (Eastgate) neighborhood & Portland's Powellhurst-Gilbert neighborhood both have: suburban-rural mix and varied housing

Pros and Cons of Moving from Salem to Portland

ConsSalem, OR

• Smaller job market
• Fewer cultural events
• Less nightlife
• Lower diversity
• Minimal public transit

ProsPortland, OR

• Larger job market
• More cultural events
• Vibrant nightlife
• Higher diversity
• Extensive public transit

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Portland, OR

• Higher cost of living
• More traffic congestion
• Larger, more impersonal
• Fewer open spaces
• Busy, fast-paced

Salem, OR

• Lower cost of living
• Less traffic congestion
• Smaller, close-knit community
• More open spaces
• Quiet, slower pace

Pros of moving from Salem to Portland

• Say goodbye to the smaller job market and hello to the larger job market
• Look forward to moving away from fewer cultural events and moving to Portland with more cultural events
• Swap the less vibrant nightlife of Salem for the vibrant nightlife in Portland
• Get ready for higher diversity in Portland

Cons of moving from Salem to Portland

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the lower cost of living in Salem to live with the higher cost of living in Portland
• You'll lose out on the pro of less traffic congestion and have to settle for the con of more traffic congestion
• Time to bid farewell to the smaller, close-knit community and get used to the larger, more impersonal community in Portland
• Swap the more open spaces for fewer open spaces

Salem vs. Portland: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Salem to Portland, you will be trading the iconic Marionberry Pie of Salem for the equally delicious Maple Bacon Donut of Portland. And while the locals in Salem rave about their flavorful Hazelnut-Crusted Salmon and sumptuous Tacos, Portland residents know they have tasty Pork Belly Cubano and Food Carts Gourmet Sandwiches to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Tempeh Bowl they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Ramen of Portland. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Salem eateries like Willamette Valley Pie Company, Bentley's Grill, and Salem Brewery Co. After the boxes are unpacked in Portland, don't wait too long before making your way to Portland's acclaimed eateries like Voodoo Doughnut, Pok Pok, and Le Pigeon.

When comparing lifestyles, Portland shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Salem. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Portland compared to what you are used to in Salem. 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 Salem favorites, but we've got you covered. If you loved Word of Mouth, Rafns, and Bentley's Grill in Salem, we're sure you'll love Screendoor, Tusk, and Imperial in Portland. See our Portland restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Salem hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at DaVinci Ristorante, head to Il Solito on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Salem and Portland

• The Mid-century Modern and Ranch architecture that Salem is known for will be replaced with the Craftsman and Old Portland architecture typical of Portland.
• Compared to Salem's real estate listings that commonly reference quiet neighborhoods and spacious backyards, Portland real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to amenities and eco-friendly features.
• Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Portland is more walkable than Salem.
• Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Portland is more bike-friendly than Salem.
• Portland has more of an urban feel than Salem.
• Portland housing costs are 26% more expensive than they are in Salem with a median home price of $539,524 compared to Salem’s $427,534.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Portland have increased by 19% compared to a 44% increase in Salem.
• Rent in Portland is 8.04% more expensive than in Salem.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Portland, OR

1. Pearl District: You'll find numerous pet-friendly parks, boutique pet shops, and restaurants with patios that welcome your furry friends.
2. Sellwood-Moreland: This neighborhood is home to expansive parks and trails, making it perfect for your dog's outdoor adventures.
3. Northwest District: You'll enjoy the nearby Forest Park and a variety of pet-centric businesses catering to your pet's needs.

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

• The shades won't be used as much for your move from Salem to Portland. Portland gets 1% fewer sunshine days than Salem.
• Portland has higher humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Salem.
• Say goodbye to the possible minor flooding and earthquakes in Salem, but be on the lookout for potential minor flooding and earthquakes in Portland.
• The average summer high temperature in Portland is 2 degrees colder than in Salem.
• The average winter lows are 1 degree warmer than they are in Salem.
• Your umbrella might be more overworked in Portland. Portland receives 4 more inches of rain compared to Salem.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Salem and Portland

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Portland tend to earn about 24% more than in Salem
• The COLI in Portland will be 1% higher than what you are used to living in Salem
• There's no change in state income tax between Salem and Portland
• The affluence in Portland is higher compared to moderate affluence in Salem
• The poverty level is notable in Portland compared to notable poverty in Salem
• In terms of homelessness, it is significant in Salem and significant in Portland

Political and Religious Climate in Salem vs. Portland

• Salem tends to lean moderately liberal in its political climate
• Portland, on the other hand, is often described as very liberal
• Portland's religious environment can be described as less religiously oriented with diverse spiritual practices
• Salem's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as diverse with a Christian majority

Salem vs. Portland Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Bummer! Looks like you might end up spending about 13% more time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Portland compared to your Salem commute. That's 1560 minutes lost each year in a car.
• You can expect traffic in Portland to be worse than it is in Salem.
• Public transit is more readily available in Portland.