Dying in Beijing May Be Pricier Than Living There

Rents are rising for the departed in Beijing. Living in China's capital city may be more affordable than being buried there, according to a new report.

Getting a plot in one of Beijing's more popular cemeteries can cost as much as $60,000 to $70,000 per square meter, TIME magazine reported, citing state-run newspaper Legal Weekly. What's more, Beijing's famous Babaoshan Cemetery charges the dead $165,000 for entry.

In comparison, a single grave site, which holds up to three burials, at the Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn, N.Y., costs between $12,000 and $14,000.

China outlawed burials to conserve much-needed space in the country’s crowded metropolises. Chinese residents must settle for a plot to inter ashes, but even the costs of those plots have increased by more than 30% a year, according to Legal Weekly. Read more...