How much does it cost to DIE in your city? Funeral costs revealed

Sydney tops the list on the nation’s most expensive cities to have a funeral, new statistics reveal. 

From the cost of caskets and burial plots to paying for celebrants and venue hires – funerals have always come with a hefty price tag, and new data reveals that those costs are only going up.

 The average cost of a funeral in Sydney is now $8,357, according to a study by finder.com.au. 

Sydney tops the list on the nation’s most expensive city to have a funeral in, according to a new study by finder.com.au (stock image)

Costs of funerals in Australia per city 

Sydney was listed as Australia’s most expensive city for funeral costs

1. Sydney – $8,357
2. Perth – $7,584
3. Brisbane – $7,505
4. Canberra – $7,303
5. Adelaide – $7,114
6. Hobart – $6,832 

Source: Finder.com.au 

*Darwin and Melbourne were excluded due to lack of data 

That is a 10 percent increase on 2017, when the average Sydney price was $7,597.

After Sydney, comes Perth where the average cost to bury a loved one is $7,584 and Brisbane follows at $7,505.

Graham Cooke, insights manager at Finder.com.au, told Daily Mail Australia how rising property prices affects the cost of funerals per city, as the value of the land increases.

‘Rising property prices would certainly have an impact on the cost of funerals. Also new players entering the market could see higher service prices,’ Mr Cooke said.  

‘Burial costs are heavily influenced by property prices and the value of land. This is a big reason why there might be such a price difference between Sydney and Hobart,’ he added.

Mr Cooke has shared some tips on how to keep funeral costs down.  

‘If you’re trying to keep costs low, avoid additions such as choirs, doves, and limousines,’ he said. 

Graham Cooke insights manager at Finder.com.au told Daily Mail Australia how rising property prices affected the cost of funerals per city (stock image)

He also recommends choosing your own celebrant rather than keeping to the one chosen by the funeral service provider and considering a cremation over a burial. 

Mr Cooke said pre-paid funeral plans are also keep control on what you’re paying for.  

Pre-paid plans allow people to lock in costs, guarding against price rises, and can be paid in instalments.

Hobart is the most affordable out of Australia’s capital cities which costs about $6,832. 

Most Australians haven’t set money aside for their funerals which could put the impost on relatives, who are landed with the hefty costs. 

Mr Cooke recommends opting for pre-paid funeral plans which allow people to pay for their funeral in advance (stock image)

Hobart (pictured) is the most affordable out of Australia’s capital cities which costs about $6,832 (stock image) 

Only 40 per cent of Australians have funded their funeral finances before they die, according to finder.com.au.

While Melbourne and Darwin weren’t included in the latest findings, a spokesman from Finder told Daily Mail Australia that Melbourne had an average cost of $7,586 last year and was third on the 2017 list.

Insurance expert Bessie Hassan warns people to start saving for their funerals.    

‘With the average funeral in Australia costing almost $7,500, it’s important to think about who that cost would fall on if something went wrong without warning. 

‘The onus is on you to ensure you’ve considered the worst case scenario and communicated your preferences to your loved ones,’ Ms Hassan said.

‘When you factor in additions such as candles, celebrant fees and overcrowding in cemeteries, prices add up quickly and the cost could really impact whoever is left to foot the bill,’ she added.    

‘Burial costs are heavily influenced by property prices and the value of land. This is a big reason why there might be such a price difference between Sydney and Hobart,’ Mr Cooke said (stock image)

Graham Cooke’s tips on you you can keep your funeral costs down

1. If you’re trying to keep costs low, avoid additions such as choirs, doves, and limousines
2. Flowers are one of the biggest factors that can increase funeral prices. Consider a cheaper flower package
3. Select your own celebrant. You don’t have to go with a celebrant chosen by a funeral service provider
4. Consider cremations as they are on average cheaper than burials
5. Shop around. You don’t have to go with the first funeral home you see. Doing your research and using a different company could save you hundreds (if not thousands) 
6. Pre-pay a funeral plan. This allows you to plan and design your own service and pay it off in increments. That way you have control over what’s being paid for