Thinking about moving to Portland or Seattle? Both Pacific Northwest cities have great amenities and things to do. We compared Seattle and Portland’s cost of living, local attractions, and more to help you decide which city is right for you. Read on to find out what it’s like living in Portland vs. Seattle!
Should You Move to Seattle or Portland?
Whether you should move to Seattle or Portland will depend on your lifestyle and living needs. Both cities have great food, a culture of sustainability, and fantastic outdoor recreation options, but the affordable cost of living in Portland coupled with a concentration of tech jobs may be more appealing if you’re looking to save on living expenses while you work. On the other hand, Seattle’s big-city vibe and accompanying cultural and economic benefits—including tons of Fortune 500 job opportunities—make the city well worth it for many looking to live and work in the Pacific Northwest.
Explore Cost of Living in Seattle & Portland
While Seattle’s cost of living is higher, it also offers a robust economy and higher salaries to help offset its elevated costs. However, Portland is a great option for those seeking affordable housing in the Pacific Northwest.
Seattle’s Price Tag Comes with Sustainable Big-City Living
Seattle’s cost of living is 80% higher than the national average, with housing costs being particularly steep—though there are some affordable neighborhoods in Seattle for residents on a budget. Despite the higher expenses, many find the price worthwhile for the benefits of living in a large, vibrant metro that combines sustainability with big-city amenities—like larger average salaries, a wealth of cultural attractions, and a bustling downtown full of thriving businesses. And as a national leader in sustainability, Seattle recycles at double the national rate and sources over 90% of its electricity from hydropower. Programs like Green Up and green building incentives further add to the city’s eco-friendly lifestyle.
Portland’s Cost of Living is More Affordable
Living in Portland means you’ll enjoy a cost of living that’s 21% lower than Seattle‘s. While costs are still higher than the U.S. average, the City of Roses offers the scenic beauty and great amenities of a large Pacific Northwest city at a more affordable price point. Portland’s housing costs offer a clear advantage, coming in 41% lower than Seattle’s—but you’ll also find savings in categories like transportation and food. Along with a number of safe, affordable neighborhoods for residents to choose from, Portland also offers a sustainable lifestyle, with the city working toward a goal of using 100% renewable energy by 2050.
Q: Is it more expensive to live in Portland or Seattle?A: Seattle is more expensive than Portland in overall cost of living, especially when it comes to housing. However, Seattle’s thriving art and culture scene, robust economy with no state income tax, and a thriving job market makes the cost worth it for a great quality of life.
Work for Great Companies in Seattle & Portland
Both Seattle and Portland have excellent employment opportunities! Seattle is a hub of large company headquarters, while Portland’s Silicon Forest draws plenty of professionals working in the tech industry.
Seattle Has Plenty of Fortune 500 Job Opportunities
If you’re considering moving to Seattle for work, you’ve made a great choice! Seattle is one of the best cities for jobs in the country, partially due to the presence of multiple Fortune 500 companies. Amazon, Starbucks, Nordstrom, and Alaska Airlines are only a few of the Fortune 500 businesses with headquarters in Seattle, and plenty more businesses and start-ups call Seattle home. The healthcare industry also has strong roots in Seattle with companies like Providence Healthcare Services. Additionally, the average salary in Seattle is $95,000 per year, which helps combat the high cost of living residents experience upon moving to Seattle.
Work in Portland’s Silicon Forest
Portland is a hub of tech jobs and start-ups, earning the city the nickname of “Silicon Forest.” You can find work with Portland tech companies like Bigleaf Networks, Foureyes, Vacasa, Smarsh, and more, as well as the American headquarters of Adidas! If you’re looking for some bigger companies in Portland to work for, Airbnb, Apple, Columbia, and Coinbase also have Portland offices you can work from. Or, you can find great positions in environmental services for the City of Portland, SWCA’s Portland office, or Terracon.
Q: How is the job market in Portland vs. Seattle? A: Both Portland and Seattle have strong job markets, but each city has a slightly different focus in industries. Portland has plenty of tech jobs—which has led to the city being called the Silicon Forest—while Seattle is full of Fortune 500 companies in a variety of industries.
Know Your Options for Transportation in Seattle & Portland
Portland and Seattle have some key differences when it comes to transportation. While both cities have great public transit options, more residents tend to use these options in Seattle due to its more robust system, while cars and bikes are more common in Portland.
Get Around on Public Transit in Seattle
With car ownership on the decline in Seattle, public transit is a great way to get around! You can use an ORCA card to ride the Link light rail and Sounder train, King County Metro buses, Seattle Streetcar, and more! Children 18 and under can ride all public transit for free, and adult fares range between $2.25 per ride or $6.00 for a day pass. Seattle is also a highly walkable and bikeable, making it easy to get around even without public transit!
Portland’s Public Transportation is Expanding
Portland is a more car-centric city, with most households owning two cars on average and most residents driving to work. The average commute is around 26 minutes, thanks to major highways like I-5, I-84, I-205, and Highway 26. However, you’ll also find an increasing number of options for public transportation in Portland! TriMet manages options like the MAX Light Rail, local buses, WES commuter rail, and Portland Streetcar, providing efficient ways to navigate the city. Additionally, Portland is known for its bike culture and excellent bikeability, with almost 400 miles of bikeways—offering yet another great option for getting around!
Q: Is traffic worse in Portland or Seattle?A: As popular, growing cities, both Seattle and Portland deal with congestion. Seattle’s traffic tends to be heavier—ranking 8th nationally compared to Portland’s 17th. However, both cities continue investing in public transit, bike infrastructure, and walkable neighborhoods, giving residents alternatives to driving.
Find Great Higher Education in Seattle & Portland
Both Seattle and Portland have a variety of higher education options at colleges and universities within city limits, and expanding your reach to nearby suburbs can open you up to even more options! In Seattle, you can expect a range of public and private education options, while Portland is home to some great specialty colleges.
Earn a Degree at Seattle Universities
Whatever type of higher education you’re looking for, Seattle universities offer it! If you’d like the flexibility of a large, highly rated public university, consider the University of Washington. However, if you’re looking for small class sizes and more affordable tuition, consider smaller public universities like the Seattle College District‘s North Seattle College, Seattle Central College, and South Seattle College. There are even great private universities in Seattle to choose from, including Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University, and City University of Seattle. No matter the degree you’re seeking, you’ll be able to find it without leaving the city!
Attend a Specialty College in Portland
If you’re looking for a specialty degree in art or medicine, Portland has great higher education options! Get an art degree at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, or attend grad school or college in Portland for a medical-related degree at Oregon Health & Science University or the National University of Natural Medicine. However, these aren’t your only options—Portland is also home to more generalized public universities like Portland State University, and plenty of private universities like the University of Portland, Reed College, Lewis & Clark College, Warner Pacific University, and Sumner College. Plenty of these schools are top-rated options with a variety of degree programs, so you’ll have your pick of great schools in Portland!
Q: How many universities are in Portland and Seattle?A: There are just over 20 colleges and universities in Portland, while Seattle is home to over 30. Both cities have a great variety of schools that offer diverse degrees, but Portland has a few more specialty health and art colleges.
Seattle & Portland Provide Classic Pacific Northwest Weather
The Pacific Northwest is known for rain, and both Seattle and Portland fit the mold. However, Portland residents will see a bit more overcast rainy days than those living in Seattle. Both cities offer a temperate climate year-round!
Enjoy Seattle’s Temperate Climate
While Seattle is often considered a rainy city, it actually receives the same amount of rain as the national average. Seattle weather has the benefit of being temperate and mild year-round, with average highs reaching only 75 degrees in summer and dropping to an average of 37 degrees in winter. Seattle also gets more sunny days than Portland, so if you’re worried about too much dreary weather, consider moving to Seattle!
Expect Rain in Portland
Portland’s climate is one of the rainiest in the country—in fact, Portland ranks third in the country for most days of rain per year. Portland also experiences over 50 less days of sun than the national average, so residents should be prepared for overcast skies. To deal with the consistent misty weather, most residents simply wear a jacket or carry an umbrella, and there are plenty of indoor things to do in Portland to pass the time, like museums, movie theaters, and coffee shops!
Q: Does Portland or Seattle get more rain?A: Portland consistently gets more rain than Seattle, but both cities get quite a few rainy days per year. Portland also tends to have overcast skies more often, with Seattle experiencing more sunny days on average than Portland. Both cities have plenty of rainy-day activities indoors!
Get Outside in Seattle & Portland Parks
The Pacific Northwest is home to beautiful forests and green space, and Portland and Seattle are no different! Despite being large cities, both have a great concentration of metro parks, and Seattle even offers some easy access to nearby national parks.
Explore Vast National Parks Near Seattle
Seattle is only a few hours away from three different national parks in Washington, making it a great place to live for hiking and outdoor recreation enthusiasts! North Cascades National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, and Olympic National Park are home to vast forests, beautiful beaches, and the diverse wildlife of the Pacific Northwest. However, if you’re living in Seattle and looking for things to do outside a little closer to home, you can walk, bike, enjoy watersports and splash pads, and play on playgrounds and fields in parks like Discovery Park, Lincoln Park, Seward Park, Green Lake Park, and Alki Beach Park.
Portland Parks Provide Plenty of Variety
Portland parks offer a great mix of urban recreation and nature escapes! One of the best parks you can find living in Portland is Washington Park, a 410-acre green space that’s home to the Hoyt Arboretum, Portland Japanese Garden, and the International Rose Test Garden! You can also find plenty of green space in Laurelhurst Park and Mt. Tabor Park—which is the site of a volcanic cinder cone. However, there are also plenty of parks in Portland that offer a more urban approach to outdoor recreation, like Pioneer Courthouse Square, Dawson Park, and Peninsula Park with its public Rose Garden.
Q: Is Seattle or Portland closer to Mount Rainier National Park? A: Seattle is closer to Mount Rainier National Park than Portland, but the national park is located between the two cities. From Seattle, it’s about an hour and a half drive, and from Portland, it’s a little over two hours away.
Learn About Local Culture in Seattle & Portland
While Portland and Seattle aren’t very far apart geographically, the two cities are quite unique when it comes to local culture. Seattle offers strong music, arts, and sports scenes, while Portland embraces its quirky, lively spirit with pride.
Explore Seattle History & Culture
If you’re a history and culture buff moving to Seattle, the first thing you need to know about is the Seattle grunge scene. The late ’80s to early ’90s saw the emergence of the “Seattle sound” with bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, and there are still plenty of places showcasing this part of Seattle’s history, including indie station KEXP and the Museum of Pop Culture. Annual music festivals like Bumbershoot and Timber also carry on the strong music culture! On the arts side, the city is full of street art, led by the Downtown Seattle Mural Project and festivals like Seattle Art Fair. However, the local culture isn’t all music and arts—living in Seattle gives sports fans great access to plenty of sports teams! You can catch games from major pro teams like the Seattle Seahawks (NFL), Kraken (NHL), Mariners (MLB), Sounders (MLS), Reign (NWSL), and Storm (WNBA), as well as a number of semi-professional and collegiate teams.
Residents Help “Keep Portland Weird”
“Keep Portland Weird” is a slogan Portland residents are fond of, as it reflects the fun, dynamic culture of the city and local events. From the Adult Soapbox Derby on Mt. Tabor and World Naked Bike Ride through town, to the unique McMenamins hotel and bar in a historic Kennedy School and the Unipiper, a famous bagpipe-playing unicyclist, Portland has all kinds of crazy attractions to keep you on your toes. The art scene continues the trend with fun immersive art at places like Hopscotch, or “freaky but true” attractions at the Portland Peculiarium. Local pro sports teams like the Portland Thorns (NWSL) host “Keep Portland Weird” theme nights, and the Trail Blazers (NBA) have shown their city pride through plays on the slogan with their “Keep Portland Plaid” uniforms and “Plaid-Out” nights. There’s even a company dedicated to “Keep Portland Weird” merch helping residents keep the city’s unique atmosphere alive and well.
Q: What is the culture like in Portland vs. Seattle?A: In Portland, the quirky “Keep Portland Weird” movement is a prevalent part of local culture, while Seattle is defined more by the ’90s grunge scene. Both cities have distinct personalities, with a variety of fun events, festivals, and attractions year-round!
Stay Hungry for Seattle & Portland Cuisine
Both Seattle and Portland are great places to live for foodies! Moving to Portland, you’ll find diverse cuisine in hundreds of food truck options, while Seattle is rooted in coffee and seafood.
Experience Food & Coffee Culture in Seattle
Being home to the Starbucks headquarters, Seattle lives and breathes coffee! The first Starbucks opened in 1971 in Pike Place Market, before becoming the global coffee giant everyone knows and loves today. Other roasters have also found their home in Seattle, with a few major companies including Espresso Vivace, Caffe Vita, Victrola Coffee Roasters, and Caffe Umbria. Coffee isn’t all Seattle has to offer though—being near the Pacific Coast, seafood is a popular commodity in the city, with places the iconic Pike Place Fish Market and Wild Salmon Seafood Market selling quality fresh fish! Finally, if you’d like a particularly unique take on Seattle food culture, try a Seattle Dog with cream cheese and onions!
Dine Out at Portland Food Carts
Portland is home to a century-old food cart scene that more recently exploded into a booming food truck culture in 2008. The best food carts in Portland span plenty of diverse cultures, from local delis like Picone’s and Italian cuisine at Sorbu Paninoteca to Filipino burgers at Makulit and Indian food at DesiPDX. And since there are so many food carts to choose from (over 500 as of 2024), many areas have dedicated food cart pods that function as small food courts, allowing Portland residents to have their pick of multiple food truck options at once!
Q: What kind of food are Seattle and Portland famous for?A: Seattle is famous for fresh fish and a unique take on hot dog toppings known as the Seattle Dog, while Portland is famous for a thriving food cart culture. Food enthusiasts will find living in Portland or Seattle to be a great opportunity to expand their palettes!
Families Can Thrive in Both Seattle & Portland
When considering moving to Seattle or Portland with your family, you’ll find both cities offer great family activities and safe, family-friendly neighborhoods! Both places have a good variety of museums, parks, and playgrounds to choose from.
Seattle Families Can Find Plenty of Places to Play
Seattle families can find an abundance of fun activities and safe places to live, including family neighborhoods like Magnolia, Queen Anne, and West Seattle! Explore hands-on exhibits and the Planetarium in the Pacific Science Center. Tour through different species from around the world at Woodland Park Zoo. Support marine conservation efforts and learn about different marine species at the Seattle Aquarium. Experience all 560 acres of Discovery Park, featuring sports courts, animal watching, hiking, biking, and more. Or enjoy one of the best free things to do in Seattle with kids at Seattle Center‘s Artists at Play, complete with a Climbing Tower and Carousel.
Enjoy Portland’s Family-Friendly Activities
With great family neighborhoods in Portland—like Forest Park, Hillsdale, and Sellwood-Moreland—plus a variety of kid-friendly activities, Portland is a great city for families! View the stars in Kendall Planetarium, sign the kids up for a camp, or attend events and shows at the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry. Watch the animals or listen to a Keeper Talk at Oregon Zoo. Support sustainable forestry by exploring two floors of exhibits on forests from around the world at the World Forestry Center. Play the day away with rides, mini golf, and the roller rink at Oaks Park. Or sign up for summer camps and take advantage of the Parent’s Night Out program at a Portland children’s museum in nearby Hillsboro, The FLIP Museum.
Q: What are the best neighborhoods for families in Seattle and Portland? A: Some of the best neighborhoods in Seattle for families are Madrona, Laurelhurst, and Magnolia, while Portland family neighborhoods include Forest Park, Southwest Hills, and Eastmoreland. These neighborhoods provide safe streets and fun things to do for parents and kids!
Seattle & Portland Are Brewery Hotspots
Whether you’re moving to Seattle or Portland, you’ll find amazing spots for young adults to hang out at local craft breweries! Both cities have thriving beer cultures, with Portland hosting many craft beer events and Seattle providing many great beer districts.
Check Out Walkable Brewery Neighborhoods in Seattle
Many of Seattle’s best neighborhoods for young professionals also happen to be brewery hotspots! Ballard, Fremont, and SoDo are walkable Seattle neighborhoods that are home to a ton of Seattle’s best breweries—and Ballard even offers a Ballard Brewed Passport so you can collect stamps as you visit different locations in the neighborhood. In Ballard, find Bale Breaker & Yonder Cider Taproom, Fair Isle Brewing, or Rooftop Brew Co. The Fremont area is home to namesake Fremont Brewing, Aslan Brewing, and Gasworks Brewing. And SoDo has options like Seattle Beer Co., Steelheads Alley, and Elysian Fields. However, if you’re living in Seattle and looking for a more refined nightlife experience, the city also offers cocktail lounges like Stampede, The Doctor’s Office, Rob Roy, and The Dark Room for a nice night out with friends.
Experience Portland Beer Culture
Portland is home to over 80 craft breweries, and hosts year-round beer festivals and tours as well! Celebrate St. John’s Winter Beer Fest in January, Oregon Craft Beer Month in February, and SheBrew Brewfest in March. For young professionals looking to settle down, Buckman, Downtown, and Northwest District are among the city’s best neighborhoods for young adults to live in—and they also put you close to the action of Portland’s beer scene. Try unique tours like the Haunted Pub Tour, cycling Brews Cruise, Portland’s Microbrewery Tour, or the Gold Medal Beer Tour could be great options for you! Or, for an everyday option, visit breweries like Stormbreaker Brewing, Occidental Brewing Co., Level Beer, Great Notion Brewing, and Migration Brewing Co.
Q: How many breweries are in Portland, OR and Seattle, WA?A: Portland is home to over 80 breweries, while Seattle is home to over 150 breweries. While Seattle’s numbers are higher, Portland actually has more breweries per capita. Craft breweries in Seattle and Portland are the reason both cities are known to have thriving craft beer scenes for young adults!
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The Extra Space Storage team is committed to helping people find the perfect place to call home no matter what stage of life they’re at. Our “Best Places to Live” picks, are designed to make moving easier by providing accurate and comprehensive information on various metro areas across the country. We consider factors like cost of living, job opportunities, local attractions, education, and more to help those looking to move make an informed decision. Discover more about our methodology today.
