Moving from Los Angeles, CA, to Portland, OR

Adapt to smaller-city life

Relocating almost 1,000 miles north from Los Angeles, CA, to Portland, OR, means adjusting to life in a significantly smaller city. 

Los Angeles, known as the “City of Angels,” has a population of 3.9 million in the city and 13.2 million in the metro. Portland, or “Rose City,” is the most populous city in Oregon, with around 652,000 residents and over 2.5 million in the metro. 

Keep reading to learn more about this unique city, known for its beautiful roses. 

Expect less sunshine and more rain in Oregon

Portland is a great choice for a hometown if you want to experience all four seasons rather than the year-round warm temperatures in LA. The temperature averages between 36 and 81 degrees, compared to 46 to 84 in Los Angeles.  

Portland's climate is wetter, with 43 inches of rain and 3 inches of snow per year, compared to 16 inches of rain and 0 inches of snow in LA. 

You can expect around 144 days of sunshine in Portland, much less than the 284 sunny days typical in Los Angeles.  

The best things to do in Portland

Portland has excellent public transportation, and the city is considered one of the most walkable in the country.  

For beautiful outdoor space, visit the International Rose Test Garden, Portland Japanese Garden, the Oregon Zoo and Washington Park. 

Check out the Portland Art Museum, the Pittock Mansion and the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) for your culture and history fix. And don’t miss the Portland Saturday Market or Powell’s City of Books for a shopping experience you won’t forget. 

Making a living in Portland

One of Portland’s mottos is “The City that Works,” and it’s true of its residents, too. The city has a low unemployment rate and salaries higher than the national average. 

Living in Portland can be pricey but generally less expensive than living in LA. Many residents are employed in education, medical services and technology. The Nike Corporation has a headquarters in Beaverton — only 7 miles away—that employs many Portlanders.

U-Pack is the best way to move from LA to Portland

U-Pack® has been in business since 1997, and we have service centers nationwide to help with long-distance moves. We’re a self-moving service where you do the packing, loading and unloading, and we handle all the driving. Get a free, no-obligation online quote today or give us a call at 844-362-5303844-594-3077.