Moving From Oregon to Washington: Your Guide to a Smooth Move

Are you an Oregonian who’s thinking about moving to Washington? Maybe–just maybe–you’re sitting with a good view of Mount Hood or the Three Sisters at this very moment, wondering…

Is it cheaper to live in Washington?
Is there more stuff to do?
Can I find a good job there?
Is there a city that I could actually see myself living in?

And, of course:

Is moving to Washington State really worth it?

Well, you’re in luck! Today, we’ll dive into everything you should know about moving from Oregon to Washington to help you figure out if this move is the right one for you.

Why are people packing up and moving from Oregon to Washington?

Deciding to move is rarely easy. After all, there’s a lot to it, from finding good long distance movers to transporting your belongings to the new location and finding a comfortable place you can feel at home. Add in an out-of-state move, and you’ve got yourself a whole lot more to consider and often high costs, which all factor into the timing of your move.

Nonetheless, one of the things we keep seeing is customers moving from Oregon to Washington. So, what makes this long-distance move a good idea? We’re glad you asked!

No income taxes

A main reason people move from Oregon to Washington is taxes. What does this mean exactly? Well, Oregon has no sales tax to its name, but Washington has no income taxes. That means you can save a more significant portion of your earnings and put it toward rent, fun activities, travel plans (Washington has 10+ airports), and beyond.

Of course, you do have high sales taxes in Washington due to not having income taxes. It’s for that reason that so many people like to live on the border of Washington and Oregon. Places like Vancouver, WA, are a hot spot for Oregonians because it’s only about 10 miles from Portland, and you can shop in Oregon while getting the luxury of no income taxes on the Washington side.

Same beautiful scenery

When you live in Oregon, you get accustomed to breathtaking views pretty much everywhere you live. First, you have Multnomah Falls on the outskirts of Portland. Then, you have the famous Crater Lake National Park over in southern Oregon. You also have a variety of other scenic areas, including the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood National Forest, and Cannon Beach.

Not to mention, you have some of the most beautiful towns and cities you’ve ever seen, including Bend (famous for its outdoor recreation), Astoria (a popular tourist and movie filming destination), and of course, Portland (a huge metropolitan area with foodie spots, shopping malls, biking routes, parks, and fun activities galore).

Like Oregon, Washington is known for its scenery. Just at the top of our head, we can think of:

Snoqualmie Falls
Olympic National Park
Palouse Falls
Leavenworth (a German-inspired town known for its huge annual Christmas festival, Oktoberfest, and breathtaking scenery–shall we go on?)

Great places to work and top-notch education

Washington has both big cities (Seattle and Spokane) and rural cities (Port Townsend and Walla Walla), giving you many great choices for places to live. Also, if you’re moving to Washington State without a job, don’t worry too much. There are several places to work, whether you’re in the tech, healthcare, agriculture, travel, or wine industries–or even military. (Washington State has seven bases!)

Now, when it comes to education in Washington, you’ve got some pretty competitive options to choose from. The state is home to top-rated schools, such as Washington State University, the University of Washington, Gonzaga University, Western Washington University, Central Washington University, and Eastern Washington University.

More things to consider when moving to Washington State: pros and cons

So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of moving from Oregon to Washington? Here’s a brief overview:

Pros

You can live in a busy city or rural town. Washington State has plenty of both!
The minimum wage is$14.49/hour as of January 1, 2022, which is higher than in Oregon ($12-$14/hour, depending on where you work).
Washington has the leading quality of life of all states, according to one report. It also comes up as #2 for best infrastructure, #3 for economy, and #4 for healthcare and education.

Cons

Housing costs tend to be higher in Washington. One report shows that it costs 26.7% more to live in Seattle than Portland. There are some ways to cut back on costs, though. For instance, you can move to Eastern Washington or another part of the state and work remotely in one of the larger cities to bring in a good income with a lower mortgage or rent cost in general.
Washington has a higher crime rate than Oregon. However, crime can happen anywhere. Some of the safest cities to move to in the Evergreen State are Sammamish, Camas, Lake Forest Park, Snoqualmie, East Wenatchee, and West Richland.
It can be time-consuming to move the long distance from Washington to Oregon. Depending on your starting location and destination, it can take up quite a bit of time to make the long-distance move, especially if you’re not working with a moving company. You’ll have to work around traffic, weather, and mover availability, among other factors.

The Average cost of moving from Oregon to Washington

This depends on where you’re moving to in Washington State. For instance, are you moving from Portland to Seattle? Perhaps, you’re picking up and going from Eugene to Spokane.

In general, the cost to move to Washington State from Oregon starts at $1,500 to $2,000. You’ll want to budget for long-distance movers, packing supplies, a storage unit, and a delivery vehicle if you need one.

You’ll also want to think about hotels if you’re traveling for multiple hours and don’t feel like driving all the way through, and with travel comes food, gas, etc.

In addition, you’ll need to add in the cost to get your new driver’s license and to get your car registered in Washington State, as well as any security deposits, first and last month’s rent, HOA fees, etc. if you’re moving to Washington.

Moving to Washington State checklist: tips and what to do

So, you’ve decided, “Washington is the state for me!” If so, it’s not too early to get things together for your move. Here are some tips to help you out as you relocate from Oregon to Washington:

#1: Start packing

It’s easy to procrastinate on packing up your home office, kids’ bedrooms, master bedroom, and kitchen. After all, there’s always something you need, and you might just not have the time to spare to pack up your whole home.

But remember that the earlier you pack, the less of a headache your move will be. So, start packing early on if you can, and don’t just pack. Pack the right way. That means labeling boxes that contain glass as “fragile” to prevent breaking during loading and unloading.

Also, color-code those boxes so that you know where everything is as it transitions from the moving truck to your new house, and of course, don’t forget to use different boxes for your office equipment, appliances, and electronic devices to keep them safe during your big move.

#2: See if you need a parking permit for your moving truck

Some cities in Washington may require you to get a parking permit if you’re driving a moving vehicle. There may also be other permits to consider before moving to Washington.

For instance, in Seattle, you might not have to get a moving truck permit. Although, depending on where you’re moving and planning to park, you might need to get a Temporary No Parking Zone or a Hooded Meter Truck Permit, according to the Seattle Department of Transportation.

#3: Get a Washington State driver’s license

When you’re moving from Oregon to Washington, a new driver’s license is one of the first things you’ll need. According to the Washington State Department of Licensing, you must get a Washington State driver’s license within 30 days of living there. In addition, you won’t be able to register your vehicle in Washington without having that license.

#4: Select the best moving company for your needs

Wherever you’re planning to move in Washington State, you have several movers at your disposal. The best way to get your move started off right is to choose a moving company that can safely transport your items from point A to point B, handling all the moving details in between.

Bellhop is proud to offer movers in both Oregon and Washington. Our moving team is experienced in long-distance moves, and our dedicated support and coordination team is committed to making your move as simple as possible by helping you plan things out from start to finish.

Our moving company can help with loading, unloading, delivery, and storage. (We do everything except for packing your items for you. That said, we do offer a great list of packing supplies you can order and have delivered right to you!)

If you need help disassembling or reassembling furniture, we’re there. We also don’t charge based on weight, which is rare for a moving company. That means that so long as your items fit on our vehicle, we’d be delighted to transport them for you. We also provide multiple financing options to help you out.

Let us help with your move from Oregon to Washington

If you’re ready to start moving from Oregon to Washington, Bellhop is here to lend a hand. We are happy to take your belongings from Beaverton, Gresham, or Portland over to a variety of cities in Washington, including but not limited to Auburn, Bellevue, Federal Way, Kent, Seattle, Tacoma, and Vancouver.

Get your move started off right. Find movers near you today.