How Much Does a Funeral in Australia Cost?

When you’re going through an emotional time such as the passing of a loved one, one of the last things you want to think about is the cost of a funeral. Many families feel torn between wanting to provide a well-deserved farewell and keeping expenses down as much as possible.

The cost of the average funeral in Australia varies hugely – both between states and depending on the type of sendoff you arrange. You can expect to pay anything from $4000 through to around $15,000. With the assistance of experienced funeral directors, you can make sure you’re planning a funeral economically while still building the personalised service your loved one deserves.

What expenses are involved?

There are certain expenses involved in almost every funeral in Australia. Try to factor these in when planning a funeral, as well as any additional personal touches that incur a cost on top of these:

• Funeral director fees
• Transfer of the deceased to funeral home
• Storage of the deceased
• Coffin
• Embalming
• Death certificate
• Permits needed for burial/cremation
• Burial or cremation service
• Expenses such as flowers, clergy, cars etc.

Ways to minimise the cost of a funeral

It’s important to remember that the cost of the funeral has no connection to your relationship with the recently deceased, and that it’s perfectly reasonable to want to save money when planning the funeral. In fact, many Australians don’t want an expensive funeral, as they wouldn’t wish to add extra burden on their family.

1. There are some ways to keep the costs down when planning a meaningful farewell.
2. Remember that funerals tend to be more expensive during peak times, ie. on weekends. Plan a weekday funeral instead.
3. Keep extras such as flowers and newspaper notices to a minimum.
4. Choose a basic coffin if the person is being cremated, as the coffin will be cremated alongside them.
5. Hold the wake at your home.
6. Ask family members to drive their own cars, to save on funeral cars.
7. Choose a cremation instead of a burial.

Cremation Vs. Burial: The costs involved

One key factor that will determine the cost of a funeral is whether you choose a cremation or burial. According to research by McCrindle, 66% of Australians would choose cremation over burial if they were planning their own funeral.

Typically, the cost of a cremation is also much lower than that of a burial. On average, a cremation in Australia costs around $3600, while a burial can reach $4500 and upwards. Keep in mind that there are other expenses involved with a burial, such as a coffin (which can be anything from $800 to $10,000).

Contact Fry Bros

Many people in Australia now opt for prepaid funerals, to help their family manage the cost and also to ensure they can plan the type of service they want. For a transparent conversation about planning a funeral for your loved one, or pre-planning a funeral, get in touch with Fry Bros. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0249336155.