San Diego Cemetery Lots: A Complete Guide to Options & Pricing

San Diego's Major Cemeteries

San Diego County has over a dozen major cemeteries. Here's a breakdown of the most established options, including location, character, and what makes each one distinct.

What You're Actually Paying For

The plot price is only the beginning. Before budgeting, understand the full list of potential cemetery costs:

• Plot or space purchase — The perpetual right to use the space. This is the headline price above.
• Opening & closing fee — The cemetery's charge to dig and close the grave: $1,500–$3,000.
• Grave liner or burial vault — Required by most cemeteries to prevent ground settling. Cost: $700–$1,500. Vaults can run $1,500–$5,000+.
• Marker or headstone — Bronze markers: $500–$3,000. Granite upright monuments: $2,000–$8,000.
• Perpetual care fee — Usually included in plot price, but confirm in writing.
• Interment scheduling fee — Weekend or holiday services often carry surcharges of $200–$600.
• Cremation niche (if scattering or urns) — Columbarium niches for urns: $800–$5,000.

Veterans: Free Burial at Miramar National Cemetery

Miramar National Cemetery is the VA national cemetery serving the San Diego region. Eligible veterans and their spouses receive burial at no cost to the family. Benefits include:

• Free grave space and opening/closing fee
• Government-furnished headstone or grave marker
• Burial flag and Presidential Memorial Certificate
• Military honors at committal service (rifle salute, flag folding)
• Liners provided at no charge

Pre-Planning vs. At-Need Purchase

Cemetery plots can be purchased at any time — not just when death is imminent. Pre-purchasing a plot (called "pre-need" or "pre-planning") has real advantages:

• Price protection: Cemetery plot prices increase 3–7% annually. Buying today locks in current pricing.
• Choice selection: Preferred locations (near trees, near family, specific sections) sell out. Pre-planning gives you first access.
• Family clarity: No ambiguity or family disagreements about where to inter. The decision is already made and documented.
• Resale option: Many cemeteries allow pre-purchased plots to be resold. Greenwood and El Camino have active secondary markets.

Pre-purchasing does not mean you pay for opening/closing fees or other at-need services in advance. It simply means the plot is reserved and paid for at today's price.

Green & Alternative Burial Options

A growing number of San Diego families are seeking environmentally conscious end-of-life options. While San Diego doesn't yet have a dedicated green burial cemetery, some options include:

• Natural/shroud burial — Available at select cemeteries with "green sections." Body interred in biodegradable shroud with no embalming or concrete vault.
• Aquamation (alkaline hydrolysis) — Water-based cremation with 90% lower carbon footprint. Available through select providers in California.
• Memorial reef placement — Cremated remains mixed into artificial reef material and placed off the San Diego coast.
• Ash scattering at sea — Legal in California waters (3+ miles offshore). Requires EPA notification within 30 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reserve a plot next to existing family at a cemetery?

Sometimes. It depends on whether adjacent spaces are available and how the cemetery manages reservation requests. Calling ahead is essential — popular cemeteries in desirable sections fill up, and adjacency can't always be guaranteed. SettledWell navigates this directly with the cemetery on your behalf.

What happens to a cemetery plot if I change my mind?

Most cemeteries have resale programs or will buy back plots at a reduced price. Some allow private resales through cemetery-authorized brokers. Miramar plots cannot be transferred or resold — they revert to VA upon non-use.

Is there a difference between a "plot," a "lot," and a "space"?

These terms are often used interchangeably, but technically: a lot is the land parcel that can contain multiple spaces or graves. A plot usually refers to one individual space. In practice, when a cemetery quotes you a plot price, they typically mean one burial space.

How far in advance should I purchase a cemetery plot?

There's no wrong time to buy. Many families purchase plots in their 50s or 60s as part of broader end-of-life planning. Veterans should verify Miramar eligibility early — documentation requirements take time to gather.