($1,732) Movers From Portland, ME to St. George, UT

What to know before moving from Portland to St. George

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

Check out how Portland compares to St. George so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in St. George are 11% lower than in Portland, 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 St. George.
  Home prices in St. George are 7.5% lower than in Portland.
• Income in St. George is 8.8% lower than in Portland, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in St. George include LHC Health Services Inc, SkyWest Airlines Inc, and Sunroc Corporation.
• The cost of living for a single person in St. George is 13.6% lower than in Portland. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in St. George is 24.5% lower than in Portland.
• The unemployment rate in St. George is 44.23% lower than in Portland.
• You’ll spend more on retail and restaurants in St. George, since the city’s sales taxes in St. George are 22.73% higher than in Portland.
• One perk of moving to St. George is paying less in state income taxes, which are 14.66% lower than in Portland.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $2,591.73 in St. George to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Portland.

How life is different in Portland vs. St. George

• The population of St. George is about 164% greater than Portland, so you may find more to see and do in your new surroundings. Of course, with more people can also come increased competition for jobs and housing.
• Getting around St. George without a car might be more difficult than in Portland. St. George has a public transportation score of 2 out of 10, whereas Portland is ranked 6. Ratings are based on a city’s transit connectivity, service frequency, and accessibility to key destinations like jobs and grocery stores.
• St. George neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Portland. Based on its score of 27 out of 100, St. George isn’t as walkable as Portland, which has a score of 62 out of 100. The higher the walkability score a city has, the easier it is to access amenities. The most walkable cities also tend to be more densely populated and have shorter block lengths.
• You probably won’t see as many cycling lanes or off-road trails in St. George, which is ranked as less bike-friendly than Portland. While Portland has a bike-friendliness score of 68 out of 100, St. George earned a 45. Scores are based on factors like whether a city accommodates cyclists on major roadways, how often people bike to work, and how many steep hills it has.
• You can anticipate the same crime rate in St. George as Portland. 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.
• St. George is generally as safe as Portland, 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.
• The air quality in St. George and Portland is generally the same (Good). Cities with good to moderate ratings have clean or acceptable air quality, with the possibility of small pollutants affecting people with certain health conditions like asthma. Anything beyond the moderate rate means increased impact on residents.

Other things to consider for your Portland vs. St. George move

• Weather: April, October and May are the best months to move to St. George, while you may need additional weather consideration during July and August as these months get hotter compared to other months.
• HOA rules: Be sure to review your community or HOA guidelines before moving day to avoid any surprises or delays.
• Elevator reservation: If your building has an elevator, make sure to find out how to reserve it ahead of your move.
• Truck parking permits: Many cities require special permits for parking large moving trucks. Check in advance to see if one is needed for your move.
• State licensing: Although a local license is not required in Utah, make sure the moving company you’ll be hiring is registered with U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). To verify if you’re dealing with a legal and licensed mover, you may ask them their USDOT registration number.Double-check that the moving company is properly licensed before you hire them.
• State regulator: You can check the status of a Utah moving license through the state's public utilities commission.
• Moving permits: Utah doesn\’t require moving permits, but it\’s still a good idea to check local parking rules before your move-in day.
• Change of address: We suggest filing your USPS change of address form at least one week before your move. You’ll be able to set your official move date, helping ensure your mail is forwarded correctly to St. George. Start the process here.
• Moving company insurance: Each state has its own requirements for the level of insurance moving companies must carry.In Utah, movers commonly offer Released Value Protection at no extra cost, providing coverage at 60 cents per pound. To increase protection, consider discussing Full Value Protection options with the moving company.
• Moving checklist: Use our moving checklist to stay on top of every detail and reduce last-minute stress.

Where to live in St. George

Ready to relocate to "Dixie"? Here are some of the top neighborhoods to consider in St. George.

Helpful moving resources