Average Funeral Costs Australian’s can expect

Average Funeral Costs Australia wide are on the increase. It’s no real surprise. You only have to look at the general cost of living which rises regularly across all parts of life. So how can you plan to get the funeral you want, whilst ensuring your budget can accommodate and not get swallowed up?

First it’s best to understand what average funeral costs Australians currently pay right across our country.  Funeral expenses do vary, depending on your location or city. For instance, funeral costs in Sydney will be slightly different to funeral costs in Melbourne and the further from the big cities you go, the cheaper funeral expenses generally are. However, you can usually expect to pay between $4,000 and $15,000 for a funeral service, with everything included in these prices.

The prices mentioned above are obviously quite broad and ultimately it will come down to your own financial circumstances and also your own personal preferences. Here we are going to breakdown the costs of a funeral for you, to hopefully, give you a better idea as to what is involved and what you can expect to pay. There are many options that are available to you and your family and options that will fit all budgets and circumstances, so that you can design a funeral service for yourself (if you’re planning your own) or your loved one, with a fitting tribute.

Let’s take a closer look at the breakdown of funeral costs in Australia:

The Services Fees

Average Funeral Costs AustraliaA funeral director is in total charge of the whole funeral, they plan and conduct the service and guide you through the process from beginning to end. These service fees go directly to him/her.
Funeral home service fees can total $1,500 and funeral home venue hire can cost up to $2,000. Funeral Home Transport costs can also add another $350.

Cremation or Burial

What does a Funeral Cost in AustraliaWhen it comes to planning a funeral you have two options available, you can either go for a burial or a cremation. Burials are more expensive than cremations, so if you have to think about your budget then this is definitely something that needs serious thought. All cemeteries have their own prices and some sections of the same cemetery have different prices, so it’s very important to check this out when you select the cemetery you want to use. A plot of land could cost you up to $7,500 in some cemeteries.

The reason cremations are gaining popularity is the fact that they are much cheaper than burials and depending on your location and your preferences you can expect to pay between $2000 and $6000 for a cremation.

Choosing between caskets and coffins

Funeral Director CostsChoosing between a casket and a coffin is another issue to think about when it comes to funeral costs. Prices do vary between the two and you can expect to pay around $800 and $3000 for a coffin and around $1000 and $4000 for a casket. Prices will vary however because of the quality of materials and how complex the design is. Obviously, the better the quality, the more you can expect to pay, increasing funeral costs.

Costs of third parties

Average Funeral Costs AustraliaYour funeral director may not be able to cover everything that’s needed and so some services will have to be carried out by third parties. Your funeral director will have their own network of people that carry out this work for them. If you do require any of these third party options then they will be charged as a third party cost.

It’s these third party options that widen the price range so much. Just a few extras can really make your funeral costs rise dramatically. Make sure you always have a budget in mind and ask your funeral director what each of the extra options will cost.

Third party options will generally include the following:

The hire of a venue

If you don’t want the funeral in a church for instance.

Member of the clergy fees or Celebrant fees.

Any music group you may want to play at your funeral.

Notices in the newspapers

If you want to let others know of your loved ones passing. This can cost $300.

Any flower arranging costs

Flowers could cost $1000.

Food and Beverages

These can cost roughly $2000. However, these figures will largely depend on how many guests you have to cater for.

Funeral Payment Plans

As you can see funerals can be very expensive so it really does make sense to plan for a funeral beforehand. There are many options available to you when it comes to paying for a funeral in advance including:

Funeral Bonds

This is a great option that allows you to invest money that will help to cover funeral expenses, when needed.  Click here to find out more.

Prepaid Funeral Plans

This is the perfect option for those wanting to pay for a funeral in advance. You get to have your say about what you want in your funeral service with the great advantage of having your costs locked in a fixed price. This ensures there will be no unexpected price rises in the future. Funeral costs are rising and this will protect you from that. Click here to find out more…

Funeral Insurance

Funeral insurance allows you to pay ongoing premiums. You can do this either monthly or fortnightly. This will enable you to cover any future funeral costs. It’s very easy to get funeral cover and is quick too. There is one very important factor to consider however, and that’s the fact that ongoing premiums could rise in the future. Click here to find out more…

How you can cover funeral costs?

N

Always stay within your budget

Never decide on your choices too fast. Sit down and think very carefully about how much you have to spend and what any added extras are going to cost you.

N

Always ask for a quote

Ask your funeral director for a quote, one that tells you exactly what every detail is costing. If budget is an issue then you will be able to tell what extras you can do without.

N

Get quotes from many funeral directors

Although you may not feel like speaking to many funeral directors, it really could save you a lot of money. Funerals are very expensive, so it would be wise to get the best possible price you can get.

N

Watch out for added extras

Always know exactly what’s included in the price including any additional extras that you may not need or want. They really can make funeral expenses rocket.

Final Thoughts

When costing yours or your loved ones funeral, think carefully about every option that’s available and decide on any extras you might want, but always ask for quotes to ensure you know exactly what you are being charged for. Average funeral costs Australia wide are soaring, which is why it’s essential you get the very best price you can, at what can be an extremely traumatic and expensive time. Click here to seek more information of paying for your funeral..

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy