1300 95 95 33 
Funeral services vary greatly in complexity, length and also cost, with an average funeral costing anywhere from $4,000 for a basic cremation, to over $10,000 depending on the service required.
While life insurance can take care of some of the financial aspects, one of the best ways to avoid burdening your family with the cost of your funeral is to prepare and prepay. This saves you money and saves your loved ones the stress of arranging your funeral at a time when stress and grief is overwhelming.
Funerals are highly personalised so there’s no set fee or fixed price, but here’s a basic breakdown of what you can expect to pay.
Traditional Burial or Cremation?
If you opt for the traditional burial, the price of the casket is major contributor to the overall cost.
Depending on what type of casket you choose you could spend from $800 to $6,000 plus another $9,500 – $20,000* for the burial plot (*burial plots estimates are based on cemeteries within Sydney as of June 2021).
That’s not including the funeral director’s costs and professional service fees, flowers, transport and other personal touches.
Choosing cremation is a much less expensive option and is now the preferred funeral service in Australia. At around $2,500 or even less for a direct cremation, it can save a substantial amount of money while still providing a respectful service for mourners to say their final goodbyes.
Burial Location
Funeral costs also vary depending on where you choose to be buried.
Typically, the cost of living in a particular area has some bearing on the cost of being buried there. So, in a major city where the cost of living is high, the cost of burial is also high.
The Extras
As well as the funeral service and casket, there are many extras that can raise the overall cost.
Consider the cost of transferring the body to and from the funeral home, preparation of the deceased, flowers, funeral cars, death certificate, death notices in the newspaper or online.
Many funeral services come as a package that includes everything but it’s worth asking for a breakdown so you’re not paying for things you don’t want or need.
Should you Spend More?
What you pay for a funeral has no correlation to how much you loved the deceased, in fact, your loved one might be appalled to know you spent so much on them.
Many people just want a nice, basic send-off where friends and family can pay their respects and celebrate their life. They are unlikely to want their family to go into debt, so consider all those extras and whether you really need them.
Arranging a Funeral
As a family owned and operated funeral home, Personal Farewells understands the importance of family, and we’re here to support, guide and help you choose the right funeral service and a meaningful farewell for your loved one.
We offer a range of affordable funerals to help you honour and celebrate their life, with genuine compassion and personalised services to suit your individual requirements.
Call us on 1300 95 95 33, email us on [email protected], or fill out our contact form for more information and support to help you through the funeral process.
