($1,663+) Portland, ME to San Francisco, CA Movers
Moving from Portland, ME, to San Francisco, CA, runs anywhere from $1,715 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $16,582 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 3,193 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 7 to 21 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
- Full-service moves for smaller spaces (studio apartments and 1-bedrooms) start around $3,299, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $16,582 or more.
- Moving containers run $2,059 - $7,815, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,715 - $5,160.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Portland, ME, to San Francisco, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $5,127 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from Portland, ME to San Francisco, CA
Moving options from Portland to San Francisco fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move on this route costs $5,127 - $10,701 and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 30% less for the same home size, while rental trucks land about 60% less, though both require you to load the truck or container yourself. This route spans 3,193 miles and typically takes 7 to 21 days.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 3,193-mile route from Portland to San Francisco, broken down by home size:
- Studio / 1 bedroom: full-service $3,299 - $7,653, container $2,059 - $4,020, rental truck $1,715 - $3,226, freight trailer $2,006 - $3,654.
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: full-service $5,127 - $10,701, container $2,865 - $5,600, rental truck $1,932 - $4,001, freight trailer $2,226 - $4,526.
- 4+ bedrooms: full-service $10,029 - $16,582, container $3,730 - $7,815, rental truck $2,300 - $5,160, freight trailer $2,893 - $5,999.
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 Portland, ME to San Francisco, CA
Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 3,193-mile move from Portland, Maine, to San Francisco, California, with costs ranging from $3,299 - $16,582. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $496 - $3,304. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between Portland and San Francisco. Local movers in Portland typically start around $382 as a base rate plus $135/hour per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Portland to San Francisco:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $3,299 - $7,653
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $5,127 - $10,701
- 4+ bedrooms: $10,029 - $16,582
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 Portland to San Francisco.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Maine to California. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Moving company rates climb during peak moving season (May –-September) when demand peaks. Scheduling your move outside of that window can lead to noticeably lower costs and better availability.
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Specialty moving services from Portland, ME to San Francisco, CA
Specialty needs vary by market — 78% of Portland movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In San Francisco, 87% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $826 - $8,260 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready78% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $330 - $1,982/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $496 - $3,965 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage56% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs33% of local movers | $1,652 - $4,956 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $4,130 - $16,520 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $1,237 - $2,351 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items67% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Liberty Bell Moving & Storage of Maine | $1,652 - $4,130 |
| Piano | Any piano type100% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $1,322 - $5,782 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling89% of local movers | $496 - $2,478 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect78% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Liberty Bell Moving & Storage of Maine | $1,074 - $3,304 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $496 - $24,780+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $496 - $5,782+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Portland to San Francisco?
Movers licensed to operate in California are typically members of the California Moving & Storage Association, worth checking for before you book any of the three below.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 customer support, and 30 days of free storage are included with every move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list, with 30+ years in business since 1995. AVL is one of the few national carriers that uses full-time in-house crews instead of contracted labor.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, combining fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Portland, ME. 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 Portland, ME to San Francisco, CA
Moving containers from Portland, Maine, to San Francisco, California, cost between $2,059 and $7,815. You're in charge of loading, and the timeline is yours to set. U-Haul allows 3 days while PODS gives you a full 30. After that, the company picks it up and delivers it to your new address. Running behind schedule? Storage in Portland costs roughly $100/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Portland to San Francisco:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,059 - $4,020
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,865 - $5,600
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,730 - $7,815
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 Portland, ME, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $1,156, 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 $124 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $248 per month.
- Access: Most major container companies serve both Portland, ME, and San Francisco, CA, 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 Maine to California 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 $2,059. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $2,865 - $5,600, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Portland to San Francisco?
- 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 Portland 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 Portland:
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.8/5), 9 years in business
- Tiny Tim's Moving (4.3/5), 33 years in business
- Integrity Movers, 0 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Portland, ME to San Francisco, CA
Renting a moving truck for the 3,193-mile move from Portland, Maine, to San Francisco, California, costs between $1,715 and $5,160, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $1,678 - $1,918
- Daily insurance: $50/day
- Equipment rentals: $12 - $33
- Portland daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.89
| 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 Portland to San Francisco based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,715 - $3,226
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,932 - $4,001
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,300 - $5,160
Pro tip: A rental truck from Portland to San Francisco looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $1,715 - $5,160. But once you factor in fuel ($1,678 - $1,918) , overnight lodging ($248/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate suggests. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Equipment: Tow dollies, appliance dollies, and moving pads are not included in the base rate. These extras often total between $124 and $578.
- Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $248.
- Gas: Expect fuel to run between $1,678 and $1,918 for the 3,193-mile drive, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Moving labor: If you'd rather not do all the heavy lifting, budget around $1,156 for 2 movers in Portland, Maine, for about 5 hours.
- Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Portland to San Francisco?
- 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 Portland, ME to San Francisco, CA
Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from Portland, Maine, to San Francisco, California. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.
Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. Most long-distance moves using this method run roughly between $2,226 and $4,526.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Portland to San Francisco:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,006 - $3,654
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,226 - $4,526
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,893 - $5,999
Pro tip: Freight trailers offer generous space but reward good packing strategy. The 4-foot ramp can be challenging for large or heavy pieces, and using the full 8-foot height takes careful stacking. Because you're billed by the linear foot, maximizing vertical space keeps your costs lower.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Seasonal demand: Pricing tends to rise during peak moving season, particularly between mid-May and mid-September.
- Moving labor: Most customers hire loading help since freight is self-loaded. Two movers in Portland, Maine, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $1,156.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $124 and $248 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from Portland to San Francisco?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the best for large moves pick. While it's a top moving container option for the DIY hybrid setup (you handle the loading, they handle the driving), the same approach makes it a strong freight choice for 3 to 5+ bedroom homes that need 53 feet of trailer capacity with pay-as-you-go pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer here. In addition to their popular container service, U-Pack delivers a top-tier freight trailer option that uses the same pay-by-the-foot pricing model and skips deposits and upfront fees entirely.
- Dubois Livestock (3.96/5 stars): Dubois Livestock is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Local ownership translates to accessible support staff and facilities based in the communities they serve, giving customers more direct communication than they'd typically get from a national-only freight network.
Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Portland to San Francisco. If you have a hard move-in date and want your stuff there as soon as possible, freight is hard to beat. It's worth noting that freight works best when you're ready to receive your delivery, so if your move-in date is still up in the air or you'll need short-term storage, a moving container is likely the more practical choice.
Cost of living: Portland, ME vs San Francisco, CA
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in San Francisco, side by side with Portland on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Portland, ME | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 112 | 245 |
| Average rent | $1,991/mo | $3,250/mo |
| Median home value | $452,202 | $1,374,773 |
| Average income | $76,174/yr | $141,446/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| State income tax | Up to 5.8% | Up to 13.3% |
| Walkability score | 62/100 | 99/100 |
| Safety index | 67.84/100 | 38.59/100 |
| Air quality | Good | Moderate |
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 San Francisco, CA to Portland, ME guide.
Why you should use moveBuddha to find a mover:
In the past 3 months, we've processed 10 real quotes from Maine to California, so our pricing data stays current. Use our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and spot bad actors early. We track 15 movers licensed in Maine, useful context for sizing up this 3,193-mile move.
Our take
The 3,193-mile move from Portland, ME, to San Francisco, CA, costs between $3,299 and $16,582 with full-service movers, $2,059 - $7,815 with a moving container, and $1,715 - $5,160 for a rental truck. Your budget and how much heavy lifting you want to do are the two biggest factors in choosing the right option. If you go with full-service movers, Safeway Moving is our top recommendation, with transparent flat-rate pricing starting around $5,127 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Lyft and Securitize.
FAQs: Moving from Portland, ME, to San Francisco, CA
What are the best neighborhoods in San Francisco?
For families, Bernal Heights, Inner Sunset, and Noe Valley are worth a look in San Francisco. If you're moving solo or without kids, Marina District, Mission Bay, and Mission District tend to be popular picks instead.
How walkable is San Francisco?
San Francisco has a walkability score of 99 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 99, compared to 62 and 68 in Portland. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
Is San Francisco a safe place to live?
San Francisco has a safety index of 38.59 out of 100 and a crime index of 61.41, compared to 67.84 and 32.16 in Portland. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Portland, ME to San Francisco, CA?
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.
What is the best time of year to move from Portland, ME to San Francisco, CA?
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 percentage of Portland movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 100% of movers in Portland handle piano moves, and 67% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
