How much does a funeral cost?

What's the average cost of a funeral in Australia?

Typically, a funeral costs between $4,000 and $15,000 in Australia. The price can vary significantly depending on which service you choose and which features you include.

All services include the transfer, coffin, death certificate and the cremation fee and cremation certificate if applicable. Other services also include a hearse and celebrant, but not extras such as flowers, family cars, or newspaper notices. Remember, burial costs do not include the cost of the burial plot.

The cost of cremation vs burial

Although the cost of a cremation funeral initially appears more expensive than a burial funeral, this is because burial pricing does not include the cost of a burial plot, ground preparation, internment, or ongoing maintenance fees.

Once these additional costs are taken into account, burials are almost always more expensive than cremations.

Funeral costs to consider

There are many costly elements associated with a funeral, including:

Funeral payment options

If you want to pay for your own funeral in advance, you can consider:

• Insurance - Funeral insurance and life insurance both pay out a lump-sum to your family when you die, so they can help cover the cost of your funeral.
• Funeral bonds - Funeral bonds are an investment offered by a friendly society or life insurance company to allow you to set aside money to cover your funeral costs.
• Pre-paid funerals - You can pre-pay, and pre-plan, your own funeral with a funeral director in your local area.
• Superannuation - Your family may be able to use any money that's left in your super to pay for your funeral. However, it can take a while to access, so they might have to pay upfront first.

If you need to pay for the funeral of somebody else, you can consider:

• Payment plan - Many funeral directors offer payment plans so you can spread the cost of a funeral over many months.
• Personal loan - A low-interest loan can help you cover the cost of a funeral, but make sure you can comfortably meet the repayments.
• Local health district - You can apply for help if you're responsible for a funeral but are in financial hardship, but any assistance will only be provided after the funeral.
• Government benefits - You may be eligible for a bereavement payment if your partner dies, and you both receive a government allowance or carer's allowance.
• Department of Veteran Affairs - If the deceased is a veteran, you may be able to get help with funeral expenses from the Australian Government Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA).
• Registered clubs - Some associations, including the Rotary Club and the Returned and Services League (RSL), may pay a funeral benefit to help with the cost of a member's funeral.

FAQs

• How much does a basic funeral cost in Australia?

  A basic funeral costs between $3,000-$5,000 in Australia.

• Does Centrelink pay for funerals?

  No. However, Centrelink offers a bereavement benefit to individuals who lose a partner, if both parties were receiving government allowance. This isn't specifically designed for funeral costs, but it can help.

• What is the most expensive part of a funeral?

  The most expensive part of a cremation funeral is typically the funeral director fee. However, if you choose a burial, it's likely the burial plot will be the most expensive element.

• Can pensioners get help with funeral costs?

  If you're a pensioner, you may be able to get help via Centrelink's bereavement payment, through your local heath district, through a registered club, or through the Department of Veteran's Affairs.

Written by

Nicola Middlemiss

Journalist

Nicola Middlemiss is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience in personal finance and insurance. She has contributed to Domain, Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine and Insurance Business Australia, offering in-depth insights into commercial insurance in the Australian market. Nicola holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Leeds and a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification, which complies with ASIC standards. See full bio

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Nicola has written 245 Finder guides across topics including:

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