Best Portland to Seattle Movers

How Much Do Portland to Seattle Movers Cost?

Moving 174 miles from Portland, OR to Seattle, WA 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 Seattle that already have a booked job heading from Seattle to Portland. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Seattle from Portland entirely empty. If you can find a Seattle moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

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

Rating Methodology

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

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 43 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Portland and Seattle areas.

From these 43 companies, we analyzed a total of 20,409 reviews dating all the way back to September 2006.

We also reviewed a total of 33 state and federal moving licenses from these 43 companies and 224 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~20,000 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 5,321 Portland to Seattle 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 Comfortable Moving) 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 Portland to Seattle moving company across 11 of the most important criteria for a succesful moving experience.

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

8.79/10 avg (Portland & Seattle combined) from 12,243 reviews

Punctuality

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

8.53/10 avg (Portland & Seattle combined) from 4,134 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

7.79/10 avg (Portland & Seattle combined) from 1,864 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

8.01/10 avg (Portland & Seattle combined) from 4,502 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

6.75/10 avg (Portland & Seattle combined) from 1,403 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

8.96/10 avg (Portland & Seattle combined) from 5,636 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.26/10 avg (Portland & Seattle combined) from 7,335 reviews

Will Hire Again

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

8.54/10 avg (Portland & Seattle combined) from 12,146 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

8.67/10 avg (Portland & Seattle combined) from 6,899 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

4.84/10 avg (Portland & Seattle combined) from 1,083 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.60/10 avg (Portland & Seattle combined) from 5,826 reviews

From Portland to Seattle: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Pearl District in Portland & South Lake Union in Seattle are both known for their: redeveloped waterfront with upscale living
• Portland's Alberta neighborhood & Seattle's Fremont both share: artsy district with murals
• If you're moving from Hawthorne, check out Capitol Hill in the Seattle area for the: nightlife & indie shops
• Do you enjoy Sellwood-Moreland's small-town feel & boutiques? You're sure to love Ballard
• Move from Northwest District to Queen Anne and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: boutique shops & hillside homes
• Irvington & Madrona are both known for their: historic homes on tree-lined streets
• Portland's Laurelhurst neighborhood & Seattle's Green Lake neighborhood both have: residential areas near parks & water
• If you're moving from St. Johns, look into West Seattle Junction for the: independent shops & community vibe
• Do you cherish living in Richmond's breweries & waterfront dining? Move into Ballard for something similar
• The similar vibes of Buckman & Belltown are both known for: pubs & urban nightlife

Pros and Cons of Moving from Portland to Seattle

ConsPortland, OR

• Smaller tech scene
• Fewer global cuisines
• Lower skyscrapers
• Less public transit options
• Smaller parks

ProsSeattle, WA

• Larger tech hub
• More diverse food scene
• Taller skyline
• Better public transit
• Larger parks

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Seattle, WA

• Wetter weather
• Higher cost of living
• More urban
• Fewer indie stores
• Less microbrew variety

Portland, OR

• Milder summers
• More affordable
• Cozy community feel
• Quirky local shops
• Diverse microbreweries

Pros of moving from Portland to Seattle

• Say goodbye to a smaller tech scene and hello to a larger tech hub
• Look forward to moving away from fewer global cuisines and moving to Seattle with a more diverse food scene
• Swap the lower skyscrapers of Portland for a taller skyline in Seattle
• Get ready for better public transit in Seattle

Cons of moving from Portland to Seattle

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from milder summers in Portland to live with wetter weather in Seattle
• You'll lose out on the pro of more affordability and have to settle with the con of a higher cost of living
• Time to bid farewell to a cozy community feel and get used to a more urban environment in Seattle
• Swap quirky local shops for fewer indie stores

Portland vs. Seattle: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Portland to Seattle, you will be trading the iconic Voodoo Doughnut of Portland for the equally delicious Pike Place Chowder of Seattle. And while the locals in Portland rave about their flavorful Pork Belly Cubano and sumptuous Food Cart Pods, Seattle residents know they have tasty Salmon and Hot Dogs 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 Seitan Wings of Seattle. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Portland eateries like Pok Pok, Le Pigeon, and Screen Door. After the boxes are unpacked in Seattle, don't wait too long before making your way to Seattle's acclaimed eateries like Canlis, Matt's in the Market, and Loulay Kitchen and Bar.

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

Discover Seattle Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Seattle 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 Le Pigeon, Nong's Khao Man Gai, and Screen Door in Portland, we're sure you'll love Canlis, Little Uncle, and The Wandering Goose in Seattle. See our Seattle restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Portland hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at Pok Pok, head to Soi on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Portland and Seattle

• The Craftsman architecture that Portland is known for will be replaced with the Modern and Craftsman architecture typical of Seattle.
• Compared to Portland's real estate listings that commonly reference eco-friendly features and proximity to parks, Seattle real estate listings often highlight features like water views and tech-friendly homes.
• Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Seattle is more walkable than Portland.
• You might want to think twice before moving your bike. Seattle is less bike-friendly than Portland.
• Seattle has more of an urban feel than Portland.
• Seattle housing costs are 63% more expensive than they are in Portland with a median home price of $879,412 compared to Portland’s $539,524.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Seattle have increased 20% compared to a 19% increase in Portland.
• Rent in Seattle is 26.12% more expensive than in Portland.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Seattle, WA

1. Ballard : You'll appreciate the walkability and numerous pet-friendly cafes and parks, like the popular Golden Gardens Park, perfect for walks by the beach with your furry friend.
2. Capitol Hill : This vibrant neighborhood is known for its many pet-friendly apartments and businesses, as well as off-leash dog parks where your pet can socialize and play.
3. West Seattle : You will love the expansive Alki Beach and Lincoln Park, both offering beautiful views and plenty of open space for walking and playing with your pet.

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

• Break out the sunglasses for your move from Portland to Seattle. Seattle gets 6% more sunshine days than Portland.
• Seattle has lower humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Portland.
• Say goodbye to the possible floods and earthquakes in Portland, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and volcanoes in Seattle.
• Get ready for colder summers. The average summer high temperature in Seattle is 5 degrees cooler than in Portland.
• The average winter lows are 1 degree warmer than they are in Portland.
• Your umbrella might be more overworked in Seattle. Seattle receives 2 more inches of rain compared to Portland.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Portland and Seattle

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Seattle tend to earn about 40% more than those in Portland
• The COLI in Seattle is 9% higher than what you are used to living in Portland
• Hooray, moving to WA means you'll no longer have state income taxes
• The affluence in Seattle is high compared to moderate affluence in Portland
• The poverty level is low in Seattle compared to moderate poverty in Portland
• In terms of homelessness, it is significant in Portland and significant in Seattle

Political and Religious Climate in Portland vs. Seattle

• Portland tends to lean Liberal/Democratic in its political climate
• Seattle, on the other hand, is often described as Liberal/Democratic
• Seattle's religious environment can be described as less religiously affiliated
• Portland's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religiously affiliated

Portland vs. Seattle Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Bummer! Looks like you might end up spending about 12% more time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Seattle compared to your Portland commute. That's 1560 minutes lost each year in a car.
• You can expect traffic in Seattle to be worse than it is in Portland.
• Public transit is more readily available in Seattle.