What’s the difference between cremation and burial, and which is cheaper?

Cremation is cheaper than burial in Perth, usually by $4,000 to $8,000. Burial places the person in a grave that must be purchased from the cemetery, while cremation returns the person as ashes that can be kept, scattered or placed in a memorial. Both can include a full service; the ceremony itself is the same choice either way.

The practical difference

With a burial, the person is placed in a coffin or casket and interred in a grave at a cemetery such as Fremantle, Karrakatta, Pinnaroo Valley or Rockingham Regional Memorial Park. The grave becomes a permanent place to visit, and a headstone or plaque is added later.

With a cremation, the person is placed in a coffin and cremated at the cemetery’s crematorium. The ashes are returned to the family within a few days in a temporary urn. Families then choose to keep them, scatter them, place them in a memorial garden or niche wall, or divide them between relatives.

The service is separate from this choice. You can have a chapel service, church service, graveside service, a celebration of life at another venue, or no service at all, with either option.

Why cremation costs less in Perth

The main reason is the grave. In the 2025/26 fee year a weekday cremation at a Metropolitan Cemeteries Board crematorium is around $1,350. A new grave at a Perth metropolitan cemetery typically costs from about $2,700 for the grant of right of burial plus about $1,700 for the interment, and a headstone or plaque is extra again.

At Gift of Grace Funerals in 2026, an unattended cremation is $3,800, a cremation with a full chapel service is $9,900, and a graveside burial service is $11,500 before the grave is purchased. Both the cremation and burial service packages include the coffin, celebrant, hearse, flowers, funeral notice and staff.

Which should you choose?

Most Perth families now choose cremation, and the reasons are usually a mix of cost, flexibility about where and when to hold a memorial, and personal or environmental preference. Families choose burial for faith reasons, because there is an existing family grave, or because they want a permanent place to visit. Some faiths require burial. There is no right answer, and our funeral specialists will explain both without pressure.

Related questions

Is cremation cheaper than burial in Australia?

Yes. Cremation avoids the cost of a grave, interment and headstone, which together usually add several thousand dollars to a burial.

Can you have a funeral service with a cremation?

Yes. A cremation can include a full chapel, church or graveside service. The Amazing Grace package at Gift of Grace Funerals is a 90 minute chapel service followed by cremation for $9,900.

What happens to the ashes after a cremation in Perth?

The ashes are returned to the family within a few days in a temporary urn. They can be kept, scattered, interred in a memorial garden or niche at the cemetery, or divided among family.

Talk to a Perth funeral specialist

Gift of Grace Funerals is a family owned funeral home at 15/11 Sainsbury Road, O’Connor, serving families across Perth 24 hours a day. Call 1300 856 862 or see our funeral packages and prices.

Last reviewed September 2026. Prices are GST inclusive and current at the time of writing.