Best Seattle to Portland Movers

How Much Do Seattle to Portland Movers Cost?

Moving 174 miles from Seattle, WA 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 Seattle. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Portland from Seattle 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 Seattle to Portland moving option

Hire local Seattle 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 Seattle 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 Seattle 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 Seattle, WA to Portland, OR long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

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

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

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

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

Punctuality

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

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

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

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

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

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

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

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

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

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

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

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

Will Hire Again

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

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

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

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

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

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

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

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

From Seattle to Portland: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

• Capitol Hill in Seattle & Alberta Arts District in Portland are both known for their LGBTQ+ friendly & arts community
• Seattle's Ballard neighborhood & Portland's Mississippi District both share craft breweries & nightlife
• If you're moving from Queen Anne, check out Mount Tabor in the Portland area for the hilltop parks & residential streets
• Do you enjoy Fremont's eclectic shops & public art? You're sure to love Mississippi District
• Move from Belltown to Pearl District and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: high-rise condos & urban nightlife
• South Lake Union & Lloyd District are both known for their tech offices & modern apartments
• Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood & Portland's Laurelhurst neighborhood both have tree-lined streets & Craftsman homes
• If you're moving from West Seattle, look into Sellwood-Moreland for the family-friendly & neighborhood parks
• Do you cherish living in Columbia City's local eateries & community vibe? Move into Division/Clinton for something similar

Pros and Cons of Moving from Seattle to Portland

ConsSeattle, WA

• Higher cost of living
• Traffic congestion
• Less public art

ProsPortland, OR

• More affordable
• Less traffic
• Rich art scene

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Portland, OR

• Smaller tech sector
• Less diverse cuisine
• Smaller parks

Seattle, WA

• Vibrant tech scene
• Seafood cuisine
• Vast green spaces

Pros of moving from Seattle to Portland

• Say goodbye to the higher cost of living and hello to more affordable
• Look forward to moving away from traffic congestion and moving to Portland with less traffic
• Swap the less public art of Seattle for a rich art scene in Portland

Cons of moving from Seattle to Portland

• Unfortunately, you'll be moving away from the vibrant tech scene in Seattle to live with a smaller tech sector in Portland
• You'll lose out on the pro of seafood cuisine and have to settle for the con of less diverse cuisine
• Time to bid farewell to vast green spaces and get used to the smaller parks in Portland

Seattle vs. Portland: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

If you're moving from Seattle to Portland, you will be trading the iconic Salmon of Seattle for the equally delicious Donuts of Portland. And while the locals in Seattle rave about their flavorful Teriyaki and sumptuous Hot Dogs, Portland residents know they have tasty Pork Belly and Food Cart Tacos to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Pho they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan BBQ of Portland. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Seattle eateries like Canlis, Pike Place Chowder, and The Barnacle. After the boxes are unpacked in Portland, don't wait too long before making your way to Portland's acclaimed eateries like Screen Door, Le Pigeon, and Pok Pok.

When comparing lifestyles, Portland shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Seattle. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Portland compared to what you are used to in Seattle. 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 Seattle favorites, but we've got you covered. If you loved Canlis, The Pink Door, and Pike Place Chowder in Seattle, we're sure you'll love Le Pigeon, Nostrana, and Portland Chowder in Portland. See our Portland restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Seattle hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at Matt's in the Market, head to Tusk on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Seattle and Portland

• The Craftsman and Contemporary architecture that Seattle is known for will be replaced with the Bungalow and Craftsman architecture typical of Portland.
• Compared to Seattle's real estate listings that commonly reference views of Puget Sound and green building, Portland real estate listings often highlight features like being close to nature and offering eco-friendly options.
• You can keep your walking shoes packed away as Portland is less walkable than Seattle.
• Make sure the movers take care of your bike because Portland is more bike-friendly than Seattle.
• Portland has less of an urban feel than Seattle.
• Portland housing costs are 39% less expensive than they are in Seattle, with a median home price of $539,524 compared to Seattle’s $879,412.
• Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Portland have increased by 19% compared to a 20% increase in Seattle.
• Rent in Portland is 20.71% more affordable than in Seattle.

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 Seattle and Portland

• The shades won't be used as much for your move from Seattle to Portland. Portland gets 5% fewer sunshine days than Seattle.
• Portland has lower humidity and a similar average UV index compared to Seattle.
• Say goodbye to the possible earthquakes and volcanoes in Seattle, but be on the lookout for potential earthquakes and floods in Portland.
• Get ready for warmer summers. The average summer high temperature in Portland is 5 degrees warmer than in Seattle.
• The average winter lows are 1 degree colder than they are in Seattle.
• Your umbrella might be neglected in Portland. Portland receives 1.5 fewer inches of rain compared to Seattle.

Financial & Community Snapshot: Seattle and Portland

• When it comes to your monthly paycheck, residents in Portland tend to earn about 29% less than in Seattle
• The COLI in Portland is 8% lower than what you are used to living in Seattle
• Bummer... By moving from WA to OR, you'll now have a state income tax of 9.9
• The affluence in Portland is moderate compared to high in Seattle
• The poverty level is moderate in Portland compared to moderate in Seattle
• In terms of homelessness, it is significant in Seattle and significant in Portland

Political and Religious Climate in Seattle vs. Portland

• Seattle tends to lean Liberal/Democratic in its political climate
• Portland, on the other hand, is often described as Liberal/Democratic
• Portland's religious environment can be described as largely secular but diverse religious communities exist including Buddhist, Jewish, and Christian groups
• Seattle's residents' religious practices can be generally categorized as less religious overall with a variety of faith communities

Seattle vs. Portland Traffic and Public Transit Considerations

• Woohoo! Expect to spend about 11% less time stuck in traffic commuting to work in Portland compared to your Seattle daily drive. That's an annual savings of 1560 minutes freely earned!
• You can expect traffic in Portland to be better than it is in Seattle.
• Public transit is more readily available in Portland.