Moving from Portland, OR, to San Francisco, CA

Making a new home in San Francisco

Moving from Portland, OR, to San Francisco, CA, means traveling 635 miles south along the West Coast for life in a bigger city. 

Portland’s metro population of over 2.5 million is smaller than San Francisco's metro population of 9.2 million. San Francisco — the fourth-most populous city in California — is both a city and a county.  

San Francisco's historic atmosphere attracts about 23 million tourists annually, or about twice as many as Portland’s annual average. Keep reading to learn more about your fabulous new city. 

Expect more sunny days for wearing flowers in your hair

Portland may be known as “Rose City” for all the rose bushes in town, but San Francisco’s sunny weather is perfect for enjoying flowers outdoors. Check out the 1967 song “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Some Flowers in Your Hair)” for inspiration. 

You’ll have more sunny days in SF — around 259 days per year — while Portland only averages 144. Summer high temperatures in Portland are typically in the low 80s, but you’ll experience cooler weather for the season in San Francisco, with average highs rarely rising above 70 degrees. 

If rainfall made you feel blue at your previous home, you’ll be happy that San Francisco gets around 25 inches of rain per year — roughly half what Portland gets.  

Winter lows stay well above freezing at 46 degrees, so snow is not in the forecast in San Francisco. 

Finding work in “The City”

Residents affectionately refer to their home as “The City,” and it’s one with golden opportunities to match the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. The job market in SF is healthy, and median salaries are higher than the national average.  

Tech companies like Salesforce and multiple other information technology companies are located in the city. Other residents work in local government, the public school district and the University of California. 

Other opportunities include business and finance since San Francisco hosts over 30 international financial institutions.

Fantastic Fun Facts about San Francisco

Brush up on SF trivia with these facts: 

• San Francisco’s cable cars are considered a National Historic Landmark even though they are not in a stationary location. 
• The city is known for Victorian and Edwardian architecture, as showcased in the “Painted Ladies” houses, shown in numerous television shows and movies, including the sitcom “Full House.” 
• The Haight-Ashbury area was popular during the Hippie movement during the late 1960s and is still a popular tourist destination. 
• Golden Gate Park is larger than Central Park in New York and features gardens, lakes and museums. 
• The city is known for fog, which residents have named “Karl.” 

Move to California with U-Pack

U-Pack® has nationwide service centers and more than 25 years of experience in long-distance moves. Our locations near Portland and San Francisco are ready to serve you. We’re a DIY-moving service where you handle packing, loading and unloading, and we drive your belongings to your new home. Get a free online quote today, or give us a call at 844-362-5303844-594-3077 to speak to a moving consultant.