($1,545) Movers From Columbus, OH to Portland, OR

What to know before moving from Columbus to Portland

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

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

• Rent prices in Portland are 6% higher than in Columbus, 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 Columbus.
  Home prices in Portland are 118.8% higher than in Columbus.
• Income in Portland is 32.0% higher than in Columbus, 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 7.6% lower than in Columbus. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
• The cost of living for a family in Portland is 16.2% lower than in Columbus.
• The unemployment rate in Portland is 21.05% higher than in Columbus.
• You’ll spend less on retail and restaurants in Portland, since the city’s sales taxes in Portland are 100.00% lower than in Columbus.
• State income taxes in Portland are 182.86% higher than in Columbus.

To put this in perspective, you would need around $2,771.55 in Portland to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Columbus.

How life is different in Columbus vs. Portland

• Portland might offer you a slower pace of life, since the population is about 28% less than Columbus.
• Portland offers better access to buses and trains than Columbus, based on public transportation ratings. Portland has a transit score of 8 out of 10 compared to 5 in Columbus. The higher the score, the more public transportation pickup and dropoff locations a city provides.
• Living in Portland means you’ll likely be within closer walking distance to restaurants, shops, parks, and entertainment than you are in Columbus. Portland is considered more walkable than Columbus, with a score of 81 out of 100 versus 41 out of 100 in Columbus. 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 Columbus 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 Columbus is rated as 48 out of 100.
• The crime rate in Portland is higher than in Columbus, 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 49.65 in Columbus. 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 Columbus, whose index is Columbus's 50.35. 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 Columbus 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 Columbus 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