Sadly readers! It’s not cheap to die in today’s hectic and fast-going world. According to an estimate by NFDA (National Funeral Directors Association), the average cost of a funeral in 2023 is more than $11,000. Huge! Right?
Well! Planning your funeral or memorial ceremony could be helpful. Paying attention to the major funeral expenses would help you save money on burial costs. Otherwise, your death will be a burden for your loved ones in terms of arranging your final expenses. In this blog post, we will explore how much funeral costs in different states are, some expenses associated with funerals, and how you could reduce them.
How does the funeral cost vary in different states?
We have already discussed the average funeral cost by NFDA. It means that these prices may vary according to your location and preferences. Here we will provide you with an outline of the average funeral cost in different states. You can observe prices for burial and cremation along with or without a funeral service.
| State | Burial Service Average Cost | Direct Burial Average Cost | Cremation Service Average Cost | Direct Cremation Average Cost |
| New Jersey | $8,430 | $4,177 | $6,895 | $2,650 |
| Hawaii | $8,378 | $3,400 | $7,166 | $1,697 |
| Maryland | $8,063 | $4,395 | $6,766 | $2,576 |
| Iowa | $8,365 | $4,611 | $7,224 | $3,140 |
| Texas | $7,692 | $3,981 | $6,377 | $2,251 |
| Indiana | $7,684 | $4,004 | $6,370 | $2,435 |
| New York | $7,831 | $3,800 | $6,286 | $2,541 |
| Alabama | $7,426 | $3,838 | $6,141 | $2,166 |
| Florida | $7,295 | $3,973 | $5,873 | $1,834 |
| West Virginia | $7,032 | $3,706 | $5,848 | $2,407 |
| Alaska | $7,264 | $3,104 | $6,317 | $2,085 |
| Ohio | $6,998 | $3,730 | $5,647 | $2,188 |
| Washington | $6,542 | $3,333 | $5,188 | $1,606 |
| Minnesota | $8,634 | $4,652 | $7,461 | $3,057 |
| Rhode Island | $8,208 | $4,039 | $6,764 | $2,765 |
| Arizona | $6,655 | $3,203 | $5,255 | $1,584 |
| California | $6,889 | $3,436 | $5,415 | $1,729 |
| Massachusetts | $8,528 | $4,330 | $7,106 | $2,846 |
| New Mexico | $6,836 | $3,552 | $5,591 | $2,067 |
| Arkansas | $6,655 | $3,203 | $5,255 | $1,584 |
| Nevada | $7,510 | $3,772 | $6,061 | $1,578 |
| Oklahoma | $6,929 | $3,681 | $5,664 | $2,291 |
What are the most and least expensive states in the USA in terms of funeral costs?
According to the information provided in the above table, Minnesota is the most expensive state. It offers a median cost of $8,634 for a traditional burial service and $8,378 for direct cremation. However, Hawaii is the least expensive state with a median cost of about $3,400 for a traditional burial along with service and $1,697 for direct cremation.
What are the services you have to consider in funeral expenses?
Multiple services are considered in the overall cost of a funeral. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Non-declinable Basic Service Fee ($2,300): This fee will cover the cost of the labor and equipment.
- Transfer of Remains ($350): the amount required to transfer the body to the mortuary.
- Embalming ($775): It is often required if the dead body is going to be transferred interstate.
- Cosmetic Preparations ($275): This fee includes the cost of applying makeup, hairdressing, clothing, or general preparation of the body.
- Facility Usage for Viewing ($450): It will apply when you use the funeral home’s chapel.
- Funeral Home Staff for Service ($515): This cost will apply when you use the services of the funeral home staff to help with the funeral ceremony.
- Hearse ($350): It is a vehicle that transports the coffin from the funeral home to the cemetery.
- Service car ($150): The vehicle that carries family members to the cemetery.
- Printed Memorial Package ($183): Funeral homes offer some memorial packages including print pamphlets or prayer cards to honor the deceased.
- Metal Burial Casket ($2,500): This cost will depend on what you want. If you choose a wooden casket it may cost you $3,000 and a green casket with no chemical treatments costs $1,500.
- Vault ($1,572): It is a burial container that comes with lined and sealed concrete to protect the grave from sinking.
- Cremation Fee ($368): This is the cost applied when a third-party crematory performs the cremation.
- Cremation Casket ($1,310): These are different from those used for burial and usually less expensive.
- Urn ($295): This fee can vary based on the size and quality of the material.
How to reduce your funeral costs in the US?
When you are dealing with a funeral provider, it’s recommended to be well aware of your rights. In 1984, the Federal Trade Commission established “The Funeral Rule” according to which you are allowed to:
- Buy only what you need, do not accept the packages they are offering you.
- Get pricing over the phone.
- First, see a GPL that outlines the cost of all the services and products the funeral service providers offer.
- Check casket prices before seeing them
- See a vault price if it isn’t included in the GPL.
- Get an itemized price list of your selections before paying.
- Get an explanation that tells any need imposed by a cemetery or crematory.
- You can buy a casket or urn from any third party.
- You can use any alternate containers for cremation.
- Remember that embalming is not required.
The Bottom Line
Between the ceremony and burial or cremation costs, funerals can be the most expensive. It’s better to plan and make some savings or get a life insurance policy for such a situation. Otherwise, the death of someone in the family would leave you in debt or bankruptcy.