How Much Does a Funeral Cost Where You Live?
In 2011 the average cost of a funeral in the UK was £2,960, but in the last six years these costs have risen by a rather daunting 38%, meaning the average funeral now costs £4,086.
A new report by Legal and General details what the cost of dying is throughout the nation, which can mean hefty bills for grieving family members, with the average cost of a burial funeral in the UK in 2017 at £4,800.
Of course, this figure can change drastically depending on where you live in the UK. As with most things, London comes out on top, where the average cost of a burial funeral is £7,700. Cremations in London are a little cheaper, with the average cost being £4,600, but this is still way above the national average of £3,872.
Most shockingly, in certain regions of London, such as Enfield, a burial funeral can cost as much as £13,049.
Once you start moving away from the capital costs do begin to decrease, but those in the South East of England will still have to pay £5,200 for a burial or £4,500 for a cremation; the most expensive region outside London.
The cheapest region is Northern Ireland, where a burial funeral costs £3,300 and a cremation £3,400. Northern Ireland is also the only region where cremations will set you back more than a burial, due to the lack of crematoriums within the region.
Costs in Scotland are similar to the UK average, with burial funerals costing £4,600 on cremations £3,800. Costs in Wales come in a little cheaper, where burial funerals are £4,200 and cremations £3,600.
Throughout the rest of England prices vary, with certain regions coming out as surprisingly expensive. A burial funeral in the East Midlands will cost £3,900 and a cremation £3,800, but not too far away in East Anglia you’ll pay £4,800 and £4,200 respectively.
Costs in Yorkshire and Humber also come in on the unexpectedly lofty side, where burial funerals cost £5,100 and cremations £4,100.
It’s also important to note that these costs include the funeral director and charge for the burial or cremation, and also transportation, opportunity for family to view the deceased, an oak/teak or similar coffin, the hearse, the funeral procession and preparation/care. What they don’t include are any floral tributes or after-funeral gathering costs, so these will unfortunately set you back further still.
If costs continue to grow as they have done over the past six years, it’s expected that by 2024 the average cost for a UK funeral will be £5,925.
With these figures in mind, it’s important to think about how we will cover the cost of our own funerals. For more information on funeral costs and insurance, check out the Legal and General website.
