As the cost of living continues to rise in Toronto, so too does the price of something many people rarely think about—the cost of dying. Whether you’re planning for a burial or cremation, finding an affordable final resting place in the city can be a serious challenge.
According to a Canadian insurance company report, the average burial in Canada costs between $5,000 and $10,000, while cremation—often seen as the cheaper option—can still range from $2,000 to $5,000. But in Toronto, these prices can quickly climb, particularly in the city’s most sought-after cemeteries.
Mount Pleasant Cemetery, with its towering trees and historic charm, has long been a coveted spot for final resting places. But securing a plot here doesn’t come cheap. A single in-ground burial plot starts at around $15,000, but depending on the location within the cemetery and the addition of monuments or grave markers, costs can easily rise into the tens of thousands.
If you’re considering a double-depth plot—where two individuals are buried in the same grave at different depths—you could be looking at costs as high as $80,000. Even private sales for these plots still hover around $60,000.
In fact, it’s not uncommon to find listings on sites like Kijiji, where individuals are selling single burial plots for upwards of $30,000.
However for a more budget-friendly option, York Cemetery in North York might be a better choice. Single burial plots here start at around $5,000, though final costs depend on the specific location within the cemetery and additional services, like a burial service or headstone installation. While York Cemetery is more affordable compared to some of the city’s other options, the costs can still add up quickly.
On the eastern side of the city, Forest Lawn Mausoleum offers a mix of traditional burial plots and mausoleum crypts. With single burial plots starting at around $2,500, it’s one of the more affordable choices in Toronto. Still, as with other locations, extra services can increase the final price.
If cremation seems like the cheaper option, the costs can still vary. At Mount Pleasant, placing cremated remains in a traditional grave costs about $655, while scattering ashes can run you $485 in general areas or $380 in the cemetery’s Cremation Ossuary.
But, why are these costs rising? The answer is similar to Toronto’s housing market—space is limited. As land in the city becomes scarcer, the cost of burial plots has been driven up, especially in centrally located or historic cemeteries like Mount Pleasant. Even cremation services, often considered the budget option, come with a growing list of fees.
That said, in Toronto, you don’t have to pay to scatter ashes in public spaces. If you’re spreading ashes on private property, landowner permission is required. But, for those looking for a serene, public spot, Prince of Wales Park, along Lake Ontario, is a popular location for scattering ashes
