Montevista | Green Burial Costs: What Does Natural Burial Cost?
Green Burial Costs: What Does Natural Burial Cost?
Green burial typically costs less than traditional burial because it eliminates expensive elements like embalming, metal caskets, and concrete vaults. Most families spend $2,000-$6,000 for complete green burial compared to $7,000-$12,000+ for traditional burial.
This guide breaks down all green burial costs so you can budget accurately and understand where savings come from.
Complete Green Burial Cost Breakdown
Burial Plot: $1,000-$5,000
The cemetery plot or grave site is usually the largest single expense.
Natural burial ground plots: $2,000-$5,000 – Dedicated natural burial cemeteries – Conservation burial grounds – Premium for prime locations (views, specific features)
Hybrid cemetery green sections: $1,000-$4,000 – Natural burial sections in traditional cemeteries – Often less expensive than dedicated natural burial grounds – Prices vary by region and cemetery
What’s included: – Right to bury in that specific location – Perpetual care (natural maintenance) – GPS grave location (at most sites)
What’s extra: – Opening and closing the grave – Marker (if desired)
Opening and Closing Grave: $500-$1,500
The cemetery charges to dig the grave and fill it after burial.
Cost factors: – Cemetery’s equipment and labor costs – Grave depth – Soil conditions – Weekend or holiday services (often higher)
Average: $800-$1,200 for Bay Area cemeteries
Biodegradable Casket or Shroud: $100-$3,000
Natural burial containers range from simple shrouds to handcrafted caskets.
Shrouds: $100-$500 – Simple cloth wrapping – Most affordable option – Often made from cotton, linen, or wool – Some include rigid board for easier handling
Simple biodegradable caskets: $800-$2,000 – Cardboard, wicker, seagrass, bamboo – Basic construction – Fully biodegradable – Adequate for all green burial requirements
Premium biodegradable caskets: $2,000-$3,000+ – Handcrafted wood (pine, willow) – Beautiful natural finishes – Artisan construction – Still fully biodegradable
Most common choice: $1,000-$1,800 biodegradable casket
Funeral Home Services: $1,000-$3,000
Basic funeral home services for green burial.
What’s typically included: – Transportation of deceased – Refrigeration instead of embalming – Basic preparation and dressing – Coordination with cemetery – Filing death certificates – Staff services
What costs extra: – Viewing or visitation (if desired) – Use of funeral home facilities for service – Transportation beyond certain radius – Additional death certificates
Average: $1,500-$2,500 for basic green burial services
Grave Marker (Optional): $100-$1,000
Natural burial grounds have restrictions on markers.
Natural fieldstone: $100-$300 – Local stone, no engraving or minimal – Placed flat on grave
Engraved natural stone: $300-$800 – Local stone with name and dates engraved – Flat placement
Native plant marking: $50-$200 – Native shrub or tree planted – Living memorial
GPS location: Often included – Many natural burial grounds use GPS to mark grave locations – No physical marker needed
Many families choose no marker or minimal natural stone, saving this cost entirely.
Additional Costs to Consider
Death certificates: $15-$25 each – You’ll need multiple copies (5-10 typical) – Required for legal and financial matters
Transportation: Variable – If burial site is distant from place of death – Can range from $100-$500+
Memorial service: $0-$2,000+ – Optional; not required for green burial – If held at funeral home or other venue, facility fees apply – Can be held at cemetery, home, or elsewhere for less
Total Green Burial Cost Examples
Budget Green Burial: $2,000-$3,500
Plot: $1,500 (hybrid cemetery section) Opening/closing: $700 Shroud: $200 Funeral home services: $1,200 Death certificates: $100 No marker Total: $3,700
Mid-Range Green Burial: $4,000-$6,000
Plot: $3,000 (natural burial ground) Opening/closing: $1,000 Biodegradable casket: $1,500 Funeral home services: $2,000 Natural stone marker: $400 Death certificates: $100 Total: $8,000
Premium Green Burial: $6,000-$10,000
Plot: $4,500 (conservation burial ground, prime location) Opening/closing: $1,200 Premium biodegradable casket: $2,800 Funeral home services: $2,500 Memorial service: $1,000 Engraved natural marker: $700 Death certificates: $100 Total: $12,800
Most families spend in the mid-range: $4,000-$6,000 total.
What Green Burial Eliminates (And How Much You Save)
No Embalming: Save $700-$1,000
Traditional embalming costs $700-$1,000 and is eliminated with green burial. Body is refrigerated instead.
No Expensive Casket: Save $1,000-$8,000+
Traditional metal or hardwood caskets range from $2,000 to $10,000+. Biodegradable options cost $100-$3,000, often saving thousands.
No Burial Vault: Save $1,000-$5,000+
Concrete vaults cost $1,000-$5,000+. Green burial uses no vault, saving this entire expense.
No Large Monument: Save $500-$5,000+
Traditional upright headstones cost $1,000-$5,000+. Natural stone markers or no markers save significantly.
Reduced Cemetery Costs: Save Variable
Some natural burial grounds charge less for plots than traditional cemeteries, though not always.
Total Potential Savings: $3,000-$15,000+
By eliminating these traditional elements, green burial can cost 30-60% less than conventional burial.
Green Burial vs. Traditional Burial Cost Comparison
Traditional Burial Total: $7,000-$15,000+ – Embalming: $800 – Metal casket: $3,000-$10,000 – Burial vault: $1,500-$5,000 – Cemetery plot: $2,000-$4,000 – Opening/closing: $1,000-$1,500 – Headstone: $1,500-$4,000 – Funeral home services: $2,000-$3,000
Green Burial Total: $2,000-$8,000 – No embalming (refrigeration) – Biodegradable casket/shroud: $100-$3,000 – No vault – Cemetery plot: $1,000-$5,000 – Opening/closing: $500-$1,500 – Natural marker or none: $0-$800 – Funeral home services: $1,000-$3,000
Average Savings: $3,000-$7,000
Green Burial vs. Cremation Costs
Cremation costs: $1,500-$4,000 – Direct cremation: $1,000-$2,000 – Cremation with service: $2,500-$4,000
Green burial costs: $2,000-$8,000
Cremation is often less expensive than green burial, though green burial has lower environmental impact than flame-based cremation.
Aquamation (water cremation): $2,000-$3,500 – More eco-friendly than flame cremation – Costs similar to green burial – Different from burial but environmentally conscious
Factors That Affect Green Burial Costs
Geographic Location
Bay Area: Generally higher costs due to land values Rural areas: Often less expensive California overall: Mid-to-high range nationally
Type of Natural Burial Site
Conservation burial grounds: Often most expensive due to conservation mission Dedicated natural burial grounds: Mid-range Hybrid sections: Often least expensive option
Container Choice
Shroud: $100-$500 (most affordable) Simple biodegradable casket: $800-$1,500 Premium biodegradable casket: $2,000-$3,000+
Service Options
Direct burial only: Lowest cost With memorial service: Adds $500-$2,000+ With viewing/visitation: Adds $500-$1,000
Weekend or Holiday
Many cemeteries charge premium rates for weekend or holiday burials.
Ways to Reduce Green Burial Costs
Choose shroud over casket: Save $500-$2,500
Select hybrid cemetery section: Save $500-$2,000 on plot
Skip the marker: Save $100-$800
Direct burial without service: Save $1,000-$2,000
Purchase biodegradable casket direct: Some online retailers sell biodegradable caskets for less
Pre-plan and pre-pay: Lock in current prices
Use minimal funeral home services: Coordinate directly with cemetery if possible
Financial Assistance for Green Burial
County assistance: Some counties help with burial costs for indigent residents
Veterans benefits: Veterans may qualify for VA burial allowance
Insurance: Life insurance or burial insurance can cover costs
Crowdfunding: Families sometimes use platforms like GoFundMe
Pre-payment plans: Many natural burial grounds offer payment plans
Hidden Costs to Watch For
Transportation: If burial site is far from place of death
Service facilities: If memorial service is held at funeral home
Weekend/holiday charges: Premium rates often apply
Additional death certificates: Need multiple copies
Plot care fees: Some cemeteries charge annual fees (ask about this)
Witness burial: Some sites charge if family wants to witness grave closing
Is Green Burial Worth the Cost?
Green burial provides: – Environmental benefits (priceless to many) – Often significant cost savings vs. traditional burial – Simpler, more natural approach – Support for land conservation (at conservation burial grounds) – Alignment with personal values
For people who value environmental sustainability, green burial delivers strong value even when costs are similar to traditional burial.
Pre-Planning Green Burial Costs
Advantages of pre-planning: – Lock in current plot prices – Make decisions without time pressure – Budget accurately – Compare costs among options
Pre-payment options: – Pay in full now – Payment plans over time – Set aside funds in dedicated account
Key Takeaways
Green burial costs less than traditional burial for most families:
- Average total cost: $2,000-$6,000 vs. $7,000-$12,000+ for traditional burial
- Main savings come from eliminating embalming, expensive caskets, and vaults
- Simplest approach (shroud burial, no marker) can cost $2,000-$3,500 total
- Premium green burial still usually costs less than mid-range traditional burial
- Environmental benefits add value beyond dollar savings
Green burial demonstrates that honoring the environment doesn’t mean spending more—often it means spending less wisely.
Green Burial Cost Planning at Monte Vista Memorial Gardens
Monte Vista can help you understand green burial costs and explore environmentally conscious options that fit your budget. We provide transparent pricing and discuss approaches that align with both your values and financial situation.
Call 510-299-1174 to discuss green burial options and receive accurate cost information for your specific preferences.