($1,355) Movers From Los Angeles, CA to Portland, OR

What to know before moving from Los Angeles to Portland

Moving from Los Angeles to Portland means adjusting to a different pace of life — and a different price tag. On average, it costs significantly more to live in Los Angeles than in Portland, making the move an opportunity for many to enjoy a lower cost of living.

Check out how Los Angeles compares to Portland so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in Portland are 48% lower than in Los Angeles, which means you’ll have more money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Portland.
  Home prices in Portland are 77.9% lower than in Los Angeles.
• Income in Portland is 14.5% higher than in Los Angeles, so you could earn more for doing the same job. The top employers in Portland include KinderCare Learning Centers, Daimler Trucks North America, and Precision Castparts.
• The cost of living for a single person in Portland is 34.4% lower than in Los Angeles. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in Portland is 34.0% lower than in Los Angeles.
• The unemployment rate in Portland is 34.91% lower than in Los Angeles.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in Portland, since the city’s sales taxes in Portland are 100.00% lower than in Los Angeles.
• One perk of moving to Portland is paying less in state income taxes, which are 25.56% lower than in Los Angeles.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $1,967.36 in Portland to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Los Angeles.

How life is different in Los Angeles vs. Portland

• Portland might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 83% less than Los Angeles.
• Your access to buses, shuttles, trams, or trains in Portland will be about the same as it currently is in Los Angeles. The cities share a similar public transportation score, which means their transit systems are comparable in terms of how connected they are, how often they provide service, and how close they are to jobs, housing, retail and food stores, and other important locations.
• Living in Portland means you’ll likely be within closer walking distance to restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment than you are in Los Angeles. Portland is considered more walkable than Los Angeles, with a score of 81 out of 100 versus 69 out of 100 in Los Angeles. A city’s walkability score indicates how pedestrian-friendly it is in terms of proximity of neighborhoods to amenities.
• If cycling is your thing, Portland is considered more bike-friendly than Los Angeles in terms of designated lanes and connectivity and how many residents opt to commute on two wheels rather than by car. Portland has a bike-friendliness score of 92 out of 100, while Los Angeles is rated as 59 out of 100.
• You can anticipate the same crime rate in Portland as Los Angeles. With the crime index, lower scores are better because they indicate less crime. Cities with scores of 20 or below, for example, have much fewer instances of crime than those with scores of 80–100.
• Portland is generally as safe as Los Angeles, according to their similar safety index ratings. The ratings are based on how comfortable residents feel about walking alone during the daytime and nighttime and the number of small crimes like theft and muggings.
• You can breathe easy knowing that Portland has better air quality than in Los Angeles. Portland has Good air quality, compared to moderate in Los Angeles. Ratings of good to moderate mean very low risk of health concerns, although people with conditions like asthma or allergies could be affected. Beyond the moderate rating, health concerns increase for some or all residents.

Other things to consider for your Los Angeles vs. Portland move

• Weather: Portland has cool and rainy winters and warm and dry summers. Portland also has overcast, wet, and changing weather conditions in fall, winter, and spring, Be sure to check your weather app to avoid rainy days,
• HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator you'll want to check on how to reserve it for move day.
• Truck parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles and moving trucks. Find out if you need any parking permits ahead of time.
• State licensing: Moving companies headquartered in Oregon must possess an up-to-date USDOT Number as well as a license issued by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
• State regulator: You can verify a Oregon moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Oregon does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
• Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to Portland. Get started here.
• Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance.Released Value Protection is a cost-effective choice as it comes at no extra cost. Movers provide this option without additional charges, but the coverage it offers is minimal. With Released Value Protection, the mover's liability is limited to 60 cents per pound per article.
• Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you've got everything covered.

Where to live in Portland

Now that you've decided to make the move to "Bridgetown", these are the best neighborhoods to move to in Portland.

Helpful moving resources