($1,486) Movers From Albany, NY to Portland, OR

What to know before moving from Albany to Portland

Moving from Albany to Portland comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Portland is generally more expensive than Albany, it’s important to plan ahead and budget carefully for the change.

Check out how the two cities compare so you know what to expect before you relocate:

• Rent prices in Portland are 6% higher than in Albany, which means you’ll have less money in your pocket each month.
• In terms of homeownership, you’ll be able to get more for your money in Albany.
  Home prices in Portland are 85.6% higher than in Albany.
• Income in Portland is 29.0% higher than in Albany, 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.
• Be sure to budget for higher bills in Portland, since the cost of living for a single person in Portland is 42.8% higher than in Albany. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• If you’re moving your family to Portland, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in Portland is 44.5% higher than in Albany.
• The unemployment rate in Portland is 2.82% lower than in Albany.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in Portland, since the city’s sales taxes in Portland are 100.00% lower than in Albany.
• One perk of moving to Portland is paying less in state income taxes, which are 9.17% lower than in Albany.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $4,284.29 in Portland to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Albany.

How life is different in Albany vs. Portland

• The population of Portland is about 558% greater than Albany, 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.
• Your access to buses, shuttles, trams, or trains in Portland will be about the same as it currently is in Albany. 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 Albany. Portland is considered more walkable than Albany, with a score of 81 out of 100 versus 65 out of 100 in Albany. 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 Albany 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 Albany is rated as 55 out of 100.
• The crime rate in Portland is higher than in Albany, so you may want to exercise a little extra caution as you're acclimating to your new location. While the crime index is 57.37 in Portland, it is 10.0 in Albany. With this index, the lower the score, the better, since it indicates a city’s crime levels.
• You may want to exercise more caution as you’re getting used to your new surroundings in Portland. With a crime index of 42.63, Portland ranks lower in overall safety than Albany, whose index is Albany's 49.65. The safety index measures how safe people in a city feel about walking alone, both during the day and at night, as well as data on muggings, theft, vandalism, and other instances of petty crime.
• The air quality in Portland and Albany 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 Albany 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: To keep things running smoothly, make sure you're familiar with any HOA or community moving policies before the big day.
• Elevator reservation: Make sure to arrange elevator access in advance if your building requires reservations for moving.
• Truck parking permits: Make sure to look into local parking regulations—some areas require permits for large moving trucks.
• 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). Ensure the company you choose is licensed to handle your move.
• State regulator: You can verify a Oregon moving company\’s license by visiting the state'spublic utilities commission
• Moving permits: You won’t need a moving permit in Oregon, though it\’s smart to double-check any local parking restrictions ahead of your move.
• Change of address: To avoid missing any mail, we recommend submitting your USPS change of address form at least a week before your move. You can choose your official move date to make sure everything gets forwarded properly toPortland Start the process here.
• Moving company insurance: The amount and type of insurance movers must have depends on state regulations.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: Let our moving checklist guide you through the process and help ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

Where to live in Portland

Now that you’ve chosen "Bridgetown" as your next home, here are a few of the best neighborhoods in Portland to check out.

Helpful moving resources