Quick answer: For a 173-mile move from Portland to Seattle, expect to spend around $256–$5,404 and one to two days in transit. Cost and time vary by move size, date, and whether you're going DIY or using a moving company.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Moving from Seattle to Portland guide.
Our track record
Best Movers By Type
Professional
|
Container
|
Rental Truck
|
Labor Only
|
Best Professional Movers from Portland to Seattle
Picking a long-distance moving company for your journey from Portland to Seattle isn't always easy. With so many choices out there, figuring out who you can really rely on can feel overwhelming.
No need to waste hours comparing moving companies — we've done the work for you. Our top picks stand out for their glowing reviews, affordable rates, and wide range of services to fit any move.
Safeway Moving
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
American Van Lines
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Allied Van Lines
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mayzlin Relocation
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
North American Van Lines
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
How we chose the best moving companies for your OR to WA move
Find trusted moving companies for your Portland to Seattle journey
Organizing a move from Portland to Seattle can be daunting, particularly when trying to identify a reliable mover that offers long-distance services. The choices are vast, but which ones stand out?
We've done the groundwork for you, evaluating local movers in Portland known for their long-distance moving capabilities, assessing them on pricing, customer experiences, and reliability.
Here are the top local moving companies to ensure a smooth transition from Portland to Seattle.
- You Move Me: 5.0 out of 5 stars
- PDX Movers: 4.96 out of 5 stars
- All Service Moving: 4.76 out of 5 stars
- 2 Brothers Moving & Delivery: 4.66 out of 5 stars
- All My Sons Moving & Storage: 4.72 out of 5 stars
Company Info
State license #: 14401
Years in Business: 11
DOT #: 2518689
Alternate Names: 0955821 BC Ltd.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Crating
- Pay by credit card
Company Info
State license #: 2353055
Pricing: $255/hr
Years in Business: 12
DOT #: 2353055
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Art
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
Company Info
State license #: 1863079
Years in Business: 20
DOT #: 1863079
Alternate Names: ASM LLC, All Service Moving and Storage
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Art
- Antiques
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Fragile-only packing
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
Company Info
State license #: 217157
Pricing: $216/hr
Years in Business: 16
Alternate Names: 2Brothers Services Inc
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Pianos
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Pay by money order
- Pay by cash
Company Info
State license #: 253620
Years in Business: 26
DOT #: 902281
Alternate Names: AMS Moving & Storage of Portland, LLC
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Antiques
- Crating
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
How much does it cost to move from Portland to Seattle?
Portland movers charge $130 per hour on average. Here are average prices for a full-service moving company, moving container, or truck:
Move size | Moving company | Moving container | Rental truck |
---|---|---|---|
Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,007 - $3,526 | $672 - $1,507 | $235 - $420 |
2 - 3 bedrooms | $1,884 - $5,404 | $1,249 - $2,290 | $256 - $495 |
4+ bedrooms | $2,499 - $6,473 | $1,646 - $2,867 | $301 - $581 |
Cost to hire movers from Oregon to Washington
If you're moving a studio or one-bedroom home from Oregon to Washington, you can expect to spend between $1,007 and $3,526. For a two- or three-bedroom place, prices usually range from $1,884 to $5,404 on the same route (OR to WA). Got a larger household? Moving a four- or five-bedroom home from Oregon to Washington typically runs between $2,499 and $6,473.
Cost of moving containers from Oregon to Washington
If you're relocating from Oregon to Washington, you'll typically spend between $672 and $1,507 for a small move. Have a two or three-bedroom home? Plan for costs to range from $1,249 up to $2,290. If you're moving a larger home—four bedrooms or more—expect to pay anywhere between $1,646 and $2,867. For a full breakdown, check out our complete PODS cost guide.
Exploree our top budget-friendly moving container companies for your move from Oregon.
Cost of moving truck rentals from Oregon to Washington
A moving rental truck is generally the cheapest option, but it requires you to do all of the driving and labor.
Moving a studio or one-bedroom apartment in a rental truck will cost around $235 to $420. A two to three-bedroom move will cost $256 to $495, and moving a home with four or more bedrooms or from Oregon to Washington costs around $301 to $581.
These quotes include the estimated fuel cost.
Factors influencing moving costs from Portland to Seattle
What to know before moving from Portland to Seattle
Moving from Portland to Seattle comes with exciting new opportunities — but also higher living costs. Since Seattle is generally more expensive than Portland, 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:
Portland | Seattle | |
---|---|---|
Average rent cost | $1,530 | $1,975 |
Average home value | $522,596 | $842,068 |
Average income (per capita) | $85,876 | $77,845 |
Cost of living (single person) | $2,572 | $3,740 |
Cost of living (family of 4) | $6,077 | $9,801 |
Unemployment rate | 6.9% | 4.8% |
Sales tax | 0.0% | 10.35% |
State income tax | 9.9% | 0.0% |
- You may want to budget more for rent in Seattle, since prices are typically 29% higher than in Portland.
- The home prices in Seattle are 61.1% higher than in Portland, which could mean saving up before buying a home, taking on a bigger mortgage, or downsizing.
- Income in Seattle is 9.4% lower than in Portland, so you could earn less for doing the same job. The top employers in Seattle — including Amazon.com, Starbucks, and Costco Wholesale — may pay more.
- Be sure to budget for higher bills in Seattle, since the cost of living for a single person in Seattle is 45.4% higher than in Portland. This includes routine expenses like utilities, groceries, clothing, and transportation.
- If you're moving your family to Seattle, keep in mind that your living expenses could increase. The cost of living for a family in Seattle is 61.3% higher than in Portland.
- The unemployment rate in Seattle is 30.43% lower than in Portland.
- Shopping and dining out will likely be a little pricier in Seattle, since its sales taxes are 10.35% higher than what you are paying in Portland.
- One perk of moving to Seattle is paying less in state income taxes, which are 100.00% lower than in Portland.
To put this in perspective, you would need around $4,362.36 in Seattle to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $3,000.00 in Portland.
How life is different in Portland vs. Seattle
Seattle | Portland | |
---|---|---|
Population | 737,015 | 652,503 |
AllTransit Transportation Performance Score | 8 | 8 |
Walkability score | 74 | 81 |
Bike friendliness score | 71 | 92 |
Crime Index | 58.88 | 57.37 |
Safety Index | 49.23 | 42.63 |
Air Quality | Good | Good |
- The population of Seattle is about 13% 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.
- Your access to buses, shuttles, trams, or trains in Seattle will be about the same as it currently is in Portland. 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.
- Seattle neighborhoods and districts might not be as easy to navigate on foot as Portland. Based on its score of 74 out of 100, Seattle isn't as walkable as Portland, which has a score of 81 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 Seattle, which is ranked as less bike-friendly than Portland. While Portland has a bike-friendliness score of 92 out of 100, Seattle earned a 71. 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 Seattle 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.
- You might find more confidence in your overall safety in Seattle than in Portland, based on Seattle's safety index of 49.23 versus 42.63 for Portland. With this index, higher scores indicate more safety, particularly around how comfortable residents feel walking alone during the day and at night.
- The air quality in Seattle 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. Seattle move
- Weather: Although Seattle has a reputation for frequent rain, the climate in Seattle is very unlikely to affect your move.
- 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: Movers operating within Washington DC city limits are subject to regulation by the Utilities and Transportation Commission, which issues operating permits to household goods moving companies. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
- State regulator: You can verify a Washington moving license and its status through the state's public utilities commission.
- Moving Permits: Washington does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state. We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move.
- Change of address: You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to Seattle. Get started here.
- Moving company insurance: Every state requires moving companies to carry different levels of insurance. When planning a move in Washington state, explore movers' insurance options for added peace of mind. Many moving companies offer Released Value Protection at no extra cost, covering items at 60 cents per pound. Enhance your protection by discussing Full Value Protection with the moving company or exploring personalized plans with third-party insurance providers. Understand coverage limits, potential extra costs, and read reviews to make an informed decision on your Washington state moving insurance.
- Moving checklist: Our moving checklist will help you have the peace of mind that you\'ve got everything covered.
Where to live in Seattle
Ready to relocate to Emerald City? Here are some of the top neighborhoods to consider in Seattle.
Best neighborhoods for singles
- Ballard
- Capitol Hill
- Fremont
- Lower Queen Anne
- South Lake Union
Best neighborhoods for families
- Greenwood
- Laurelhurst
- Magnolia
- Upper Queen Anne
- West Seattle
Things to do in Seattle
Now that you've made the move to Washington it's the perfect time to explore Seattle From local hotspots to hidden gems, there's something to enjoy for every lifestyle:
- Arts and culture: You'll find museums and cultural hubs throughout Seattle, such as the Museum of Popular Culture (MoPOP), Olympic Sculpture Park, National Nordic Museum, Chihuly Garden and Glass, and Museum of Flight.
- Outdoor recreation: The city's Discovery Park, Olympic Sculpture Park, Green Lake Park, and Carkeek Park — along with other locations, ideal for trails, cycling, or enjoying the fresh air.
- Sports: Experience the energy of a live game and back the home team at an Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Seattle Mariners (MLB), Seattle Kraken (NHL), or Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) game.
FAQ
When is the best time to move from Portland to Seattle?
The most budget-friendly and comfortable times to move from Portland to Seattle are in the spring or fall, when the weather is mild and moving rates in Portland. are lower.
When is the cheapest time to move from Portland to Seattle?
Because most people are moving from Portland to Seattle in the spring or fall, you can often catch discounts by moving in the winter. Read our guide on moving discounts to learn more.
How long does a move from Portland to Seattle take?
Moving from Portland, OR to Seattle, WA covers 173 miles and usually takes one to two days Need to move faster? Some Portland movers offer expedited options. If you're not ready to receive your items, look into storage solutions in Seattle.