Cremation Costs in Ottawa
Clear, published pricing. Every optional charge named.
Direct Cremation: $2,287.05 Including HST
Cremation prices can be hard to compare because providers include different services in their advertised price. We publish ours.
Under our 2026 price list, effective May 1, 2026, direct cremation with Modest Cremation Alternative costs $2,287.05 including HST. That is the complete price for a standard direct cremation, not a starting price. Below is exactly what it includes, what can cost extra, and what to ask any provider before you decide.
What the $2,287.05 Includes
- Professional services and coordination of arrangements, remotely or by phone
- Completion and filing of legal documentation, including the Statement of Death, burial permit and cremation application
- Transfer of the deceased from the place of death (within 50 km), including after hours
- Preparation (bathing and dressing, without embalming) and sheltering in our care
- A cremation container
- The coroner’s certificate to cremate, which Ontario requires before any cremation
- The municipal death registration fee and the BAO consumer protection fee
- Cremation at Pinecrest Crematorium
- 10 or more Proof of Death Certificates
Urns are not included in the base price. A temporary urn is $60, and permanent and keepsake urns are priced individually; see our urn selection.
Third-party fees within the total, such as the coroner’s certificate, municipal registration, the BAO fee and the crematorium fee, are paid out on your behalf.
What Can Cost Extra
Additional charges apply only to optional services or to circumstances outside a standard arrangement. We explain them before you commit:
- Urns: a temporary urn is $60; permanent and keepsake urns are priced individually
- Transfers beyond 50 km: $3.00 per km (one way)
- In-person arrangement meeting: $575 (arranging remotely is included)
- Private identification, up to 10 family members for 30 minutes: $675
- Aftercare estate services (Canada Pension paperwork and notification letters): $375
- Pacemaker removal: $90
- Urn delivery within 35 km: $85
HST applies where applicable. The crematorium may charge more for individuals over 250 lb or for family witnessing. Ontario regulations allow providers to charge a $350 deposit for cremated remains that go unclaimed; we do not charge it.
Payment
Payment is due at the time of arrangements, by cash, cheque, debit or most major credit cards. Payment plans are available; financing charges apply.
Call us at 343-227-2393. We will walk you through the total for your situation, including anything optional, before you commit.
Why Prices Vary, and What to Ask
Two providers advertising direct cremation may not be offering the same thing. The final cost depends on:
- Which services are included in the advertised price
- Transfer distance and after-hours handling
- Documentation and third-party fees
- The cremation container and the urn
- Optional services, and cemetery or memorial choices
Questions to ask any provider
- What is the total, including HST and third-party fees? Ask for it itemized, in writing.
- What could cost extra? Mileage, after-hours service, medical-device removal, delivery and storage are common extras.
- Is an urn included? Confirm what the remains are returned in.
- Is the provider licensed? Ontario providers are licensed by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario. Our licence is TS1-0014812.
- Who answers when a death occurs after hours?
The cheapest advertised price is not always the best value. Clear communication and support matter when your family is dealing with a loss.
Is Cremation Less Expensive Than Burial?
Generally, yes. Direct cremation avoids many costs of a traditional funeral and burial, including:
- Embalming
- Visitation and funeral home facilities
- A viewing or burial casket
- Funeral vehicles and processions
- Cemetery property, grave opening and closing, and a marker
For comparison, our direct burial costs $3,027.65 including HST, plus cemetery fees paid directly to the cemetery. Families who later inter an urn or use a columbarium niche will have separate cemetery costs.
A meaningful memorial does not need to be expensive
Families can gather at home, at a community venue, a place of worship, a favourite restaurant or outdoors, at a time that suits them. Direct cremation separates the cost of the cremation from decisions about memorialization.
Cremation Cost FAQ
How much does cremation cost in Ottawa?
Direct cremation with Modest Cremation Alternative costs $2,287.05 including HST under our 2026 price list.
Is direct cremation cheaper than a traditional funeral?
Generally, yes. It involves fewer services, facilities, vehicles and merchandise. The final cost depends on the arrangements you choose.
Are all advertised cremation prices comparable?
No. Providers include different services in their advertised prices. Ask each for an itemized total including HST and third-party fees.
Is an urn included?
No. Urns are selected separately. A temporary urn is $60.
Can cremation be prepaid?
We offer pre-planning to document your wishes, and you can prepay those arrangements, with funds held in trust and the price of our services locked in; third-party fees may change. If you pay at the time of need instead, payment plans are available; financing charges apply.
Does cremation eliminate cemetery costs?
It can. Cemetery costs apply only if you choose interment or a columbarium niche.
More answers are on our cremation FAQ.
Compassionate Guidance When You Need It
Whether a death has just occurred or you are planning ahead, Modest Cremation Alternative is here with clear information, dignified care and compassionate support.
Prices reflect the Modest Cremation Alternative 2026 price list, effective May 1, 2026, and are subject to change. This page is general information, not legal, tax, estate or financial advice. Modest Cremation Alternative Inc., 2037 McGee Side Road, Carp, ON K0A 1L0. Licensed by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario, licence TS1-0014812.