($1,784+) San Diego, CA to Portland, ME Movers
The cost to move from San Diego, CA to Portland, ME ranges from $1,449 to $14,567, with an average cost of $5,450. Moves can be as low as $1,784 if you're wanting to DIY it.
This move covers about 3,098 miles and usually takes 7 to 21 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
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Compare moving options from San Diego, CA to Portland, ME
Moving options from San Diego to Portland fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service costs run $1,449 - $14,567 on this route depending on how much you're moving, with an average cost of $5,450, and movers handle all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 60% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This particular route covers 3,098 miles and typically takes 7 to 21 days depending on the service you pick.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 3,098-mile route from San Diego to Portland, broken down by home size:
- Studio / 1 bedroom: full-service $1,449 - $6,925, container $2,123 - $3,897, rental truck $1,645 - $3,226, freight trailer $1,853 - $3,875.
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: full-service $4,592 - $8,949, container $2,809 - $6,062, rental truck $1,857 - $4,161, freight trailer $2,115 - $4,664.
- 4+ bedrooms: full-service $8,726 - $14,567, container $3,882 - $7,499, rental truck $2,300 - $4,865, freight trailer $2,923 - $6,125.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from San Diego, CA to Portland, ME
Full-service movers for the 3,098-mile relocation from San Diego, California, to Portland, Maine, cost between $1,449 and $14,567. With a long-distance moving company, loading, transportation, and unloading are all taken care of. If you want to skip packing boxes, too, that can be added for $413 - $2,756, depending on your home size. What you pay in the end is mainly a function of how much your shipment weighs and how far it's traveling. As a point of reference, local movers in San Diego typically charge a base rate around $226 plus $200 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from San Diego to Portland:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,449 - $6,925
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $4,592 - $8,949
- 4+ bedrooms: $8,726 - $14,567
Packing, storage, shuttle fees, and added coverage can stack on top of the base price. See the full add-ons and specialty services table below for what each runs from San Diego to Portland.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from California to Maine. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Avoiding peak moving season dates (May - September) is one of the easiest ways to reduce costs. Off-season moves typically come with lower pricing and more room to negotiate since movers have fewer bookings.
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Specialty moving services from San Diego, CA to Portland, ME
Specialty needs vary by market — 100% of San Diego movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Portland, 78% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $689 - $6,890 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready100% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: McCarthy Transfer & Storage | $276 - $1,654/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $413 - $3,307 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage53% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs44% of local movers | $1,378 - $4,134 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $3,445 - $13,780 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,032 - $1,961 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items59% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: McCarthy Transfer & Storage | $1,378 - $3,445 |
| Piano | Any piano type75% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: McCarthy Transfer & Storage | $1,102 - $4,823 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling47% of local movers | $413 - $2,067 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect41% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Cali Moving & Storage Corp | $896 - $2,756 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $413 - $20,670+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $413 - $4,823+ |
What are the best full-service movers from San Diego to Portland?
If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Maine Motor Transport Association is a good first thing to confirm.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving offers the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing locks in your cost upfront, and 24/7 customer support is available throughout the move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. Operating since 1995, AVL staffs every move with full-time in-house crews trained on antiques, art, and other high-value items.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. As one of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, real-time shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in San Diego, CA. At that distance, local movers often charge 30% - 40% more because they don't spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments the way national carriers do. If a direct route and faster delivery (averaging 2 days) are priorities, a local mover may be worth considering, but that service comes at a higher price.
Moving container costs from San Diego, CA to Portland, ME
Moving containers from San Diego, California, to Portland, Maine, cost between $2,123 and $7,499. A container is delivered to your home and you load it on your own time. Loading windows vary by company: U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30. From there, the company takes over and transports it to Portland. If you go over that window, storage in San Diego adds around $100/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from San Diego to Portland:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,123 - $3,897
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,809 - $6,062
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,882 - $7,499
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Moving labor: Because loading is on you with a container move, hourly labor help is a popular add-on. In San Diego, CA, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $965, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Storage: After the first month, ongoing rental fees kick in. A small container (7 - 8 feet) averages about $103 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $207 per month.
- Access: Most major container companies serve both San Diego, CA, and Portland, ME, but confirm a facility is within reasonable distance if you need to retrieve items while in storage.
- Added contents protection: Full-value protection provides broader coverage than the standard liability in your contract. It typically costs 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on $50,000 worth of belongings.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a California to Maine move in the past 90 days. Our pricing data is drawn from 1,500+ monthly data points across our vetted mover network and refreshed every month.
Pro tip: Before ordering moving containers, take a careful inventory of everything you're moving. A typical 1-bedroom home weighs around 3,000 pounds and fits in a single container starting at $2,123. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $2,809 - $6,062, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers San Diego to Portland?
- Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
- U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
- MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)
Want a hand without paying for full service? A container or truck move does not mean doing all the heavy lifting yourself. You can hire a labor-only crew in San Diego to load and unload while you handle the drive, then book full help later if you change your mind. Three top-rated local crews for labor-only help in San Diego:
- McCarthy Transfer & Storage (4.8/5), 106 years in business
- Cali Moving & Storage Corp (4.8/5), 10 years in business
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.5/5), 13 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from San Diego, CA to Portland, ME
Truck rentals from San Diego, California, to Portland, Maine, range from $1,645 - $4,865 for the 3,098-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $1,358 - $1,552
- Daily insurance: $41/day
- Equipment rentals: $10 - $28
- San Diego daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.09
| Home size | Typical truck size |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 10 - 12 ft |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | 15 - 17 ft |
| 4+ bedrooms | 20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel) |
These are typical moving truck rental costs from San Diego to Portland based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,645 - $3,226
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,857 - $4,161
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,300 - $4,865
Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $1,645 - $4,865 when pricing out a rental truck from San Diego to Portland. Fuel alone runs ($1,358 - $1,552) , and overnight lodging ($207/night), meals, and equipment rentals add up quickly. Most people spend an additional $600 - $1,200 beyond the base rate by the time the move is done.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in San Diego, California, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $965.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $1,358 - $1,552 for the 3,098-mile drive, depending on whether your truck takes gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, auto transport trailers, and furniture pads are separate rentals. Expect to spend between $83 and $448, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $207 per night for hotel stops on the 3,098-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $413 - $620.
What are the best moving truck rentals from San Diego to Portland?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
- Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
- U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars)
The best truck rental companies for this route, based on moveBuddha's ratings.
Freight trailer costs from San Diego, CA to Portland, ME
For larger DIY moves from San Diego, California, freight trailers give you plenty of room without putting you behind the wheel. Standard trailers are 28 feet long. You load the section you need, and the carrier transports everything to Portland, Maine.
Because freight companies bill by linear footage, your total is based on how much of the trailer you occupy, not the full length. For most medium-to-large moves on this route, pricing typically falls between $2,115 and $4,664.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from San Diego to Portland:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,853 - $3,875
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,115 - $4,664
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,923 - $6,125
Pro tip: A 4-foot ramp sounds simple, but heavy or awkward furniture can make the climb tricky. With 8 feet of height to work with, smart vertical stacking is key. Since freight companies charge by the linear foot, every extra foot you use adds to the bill.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Demand cycles: Trailer costs climb during peak moving season, especially from mid-May through mid-September when demand is at its highest.
- More space: You're billed only for the linear feet you use, but underestimating your inventory means paying for extra space, typically around $103 - $207 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in San Diego, California, for about five hours typically runs $965.
What are the best freight companies from San Diego to Portland?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the pick for best for large moves. The company is well-regarded as a top moving container option for its load-it-yourself, we-drive-it model, and that same model makes it a strong freight option for larger homes that benefit from the company's 53-foot trucks and footage-based pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Alongside their flagship container service, U-Pack provides a top-notch freight trailer option that follows the same model: no deposits, no upfront fees, and pricing based on the linear footage you actually use.
- Fast Transportation (4.34/5 stars): Fast Transportation is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned and based facilities mean accessible support staff and area-specific scheduling flexibility that national-only freight carriers typically don't match.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are one of the fastest ways to move your belongings interstate, often beating full-service movers on delivery time. If getting your stuff to Portland quickly is a priority, freight is worth a hard look. That said, freight carriers typically require you to be available to receive your shipment within a set window, so if you need short-term storage or your new place won't be ready right away, a container or full-service mover may give you more flexibility.
Cost of living: San Diego, CA vs Portland, ME
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Portland, side by side with San Diego on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | San Diego, CA | Portland, ME |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 155 | 112 |
| Average rent | $2,881/mo | $1,991/mo |
| Median home value | $847,715 | $452,202 |
| Average income | $104,321/yr | $76,174/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 6.6% | 5.2% |
| State income tax | Up to 13.3% | Up to 5.8% |
| Walkability score | 53/100 | 62/100 |
| Safety index | 60.17/100 | 67.84/100 |
| Air quality | Moderate | Good |
Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Portland, ME to San Diego, CA guide.
Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:
Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from California to Maine, so we know current pricing better than most. Checking our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates. California alone has 374 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 3,098-mile move like this one.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from San Diego, CA, to Portland, ME, comes down to your budget and how much time and work you're able to put into it. Hands-off relocations handled by full-service movers range from $1,449 - $14,567 on the 3,098-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $2,123 - $7,499 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $1,645 - $4,865 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $4,592 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include TD Banknorth Inc and Maine Medical Center.
FAQs: Moving from San Diego, CA, to Portland, ME
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($1,358 - $1,552), daily insurance ($41/day), and equipment rentals ($10 - $28) on top. Overnight stops can add another $207/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
How long does a move from San Diego, CA to Portland, ME take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 5 - 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are usually the fastest option outside of driving yourself, with deliveries in 3 - 5 days, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.
What is the best time of year to move from San Diego, CA to Portland, ME?
Aim for a move between October and March, when demand drops and rates tend to be lower across all service types. Peak season runs mid-May through mid-September, and weekends and month-end dates are pricier regardless of season. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from San Diego, CA to Portland, ME?
Cutting 500 pounds from your shipment, roughly one bedroom's worth of items, saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route. Beyond that, staying organized matters just as much. A solid moving checklist keeps you on schedule and helps you avoid costly last-minute mistakes.
Is Portland a safe place to live?
Portland has a safety index of 67.84 out of 100 and a crime index of 32.16, compared to 60.17 and 39.83 in San Diego. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What percentage of San Diego movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 75% of movers in San Diego handle piano moves, and 59% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
