It’s no secret that inflation has become a major national pain point. Prices remain high in key areas like food and housing, making it tougher for most of us to get by.
Unfortunately, most people forget that inflation affects the prices of everything, including the average burial or cremation cost. With materials growing more and more expensive, funeral homes nationwide have been raising prices to make up the difference. Worse, end-of-life services have traditionally been expensive, often costing thousands, so seeing those high prices rise even further can be daunting.
That’s why comparing prices and finding affordable end-of-life options can be so crucial. If you’re not sure whether burial or cremation is right for your budget, here’s what you should know about finding inexpensive ways to honor your loved one.
When we talk about cremation, we often break it into two broad categories: traditional cremation and direct cremation.
According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the average cremation in the U.S. will cost around $6,280. Here in Texas, a cremation will often be a bit lower than that at around $5,800-$6,100.
This price includes a few additional services beyond the cremation itself, depending on your cremation plans.
To begin, most people opt for a cremation casket, which you’ll use during the funeral service or viewing. Its price can vary a great deal. You may pay around $1,000 for one, though you can also rent a casket from a funeral home for a lower price.
You’ll also need an urn. Again, the price of this can vary based on the material it’s made from, the style, and any personalization options you choose. Many people pay anywhere from a hundred to several hundred dollars for an urn.
Some people prefer to store the urn in a columbarium. This is a structure within a cemetery that stores ashes. If you choose to do this, placement in a columbarium can range anywhere from $300 to $3,000, depending on the location.
Internment is another option. This involves burying the ashes in the cemetery. As with the columbarium, fees can run anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.
If you choose to scatter your loved one’s ashes as part of an end-of-life ceremony, you may need a special permit in some locations. These are often inexpensive, but you’ll still want to factor the cost into your budget.
You may also pay for things like a funeral service and body viewing as well as other services, which we’ll discuss below.
Also called a “simple cremation,” this affordable option means forgoing most of the additional services that factor into the funeral or viewing. In essence, all you’re doing is paying for the cremation of the body.
This doesn’t include the cost of an urn, though the cremation provider will place the remains in a cremation vessel. This is often a simple wood-grain or cardboard container that will cost you anywhere from $50-$200.
If you prefer direct cremation, you may save thousands. Throughout the U.S., direct cremation will often cost a little over $2,000, an estimate that holds true here in Texas as well.
If a burial is your personal preference, you’ll have several different options to choose from.
The NFDA estimates the average cost of a burial in the U.S. to be around $8,300.
This includes the cost of a burial casket, which can cost thousands. Most funeral homes will offer metal or wood caskets, whose prices will depend on the materials you choose. Your cemetery may also require a grave liner, which protects the casket and supports the soil.
You’ll also need to pay for embalming in many cases. This will cost several hundred dollars and is often necessary when significant time has passed since your loved one died. A funeral home may not require embalming if you arrange the services soon after your loved one’s passing.
Don’t forget about other assorted cemetery fees. You may pay an “internment” or “opening and closing” fee, for example, which is the cost of digging the grave and replacing the soil.
If you don’t have a cemetery plot, you’ll need to buy one along with an associated headstone, both of which can cost thousands when combined. If you opt to place your loved one in a vault, you may pay an additional $1,500 or more.
You’ll also pay for the upkeep of the burial plot for years to come, something you won’t worry about with cremation.
A green burial can be far less expensive than its traditional alternative. With this eco-friendly option, you’ll skip the embalming process and the traditional casket. Instead, you’ll use a sustainable material like a linen shroud or a wicker or bamboo casket for your loved one.
For this reason, green burials are an affordable choice. They can cost a little more or less than a direct cremation, depending on the services you opt into.
With a direct or “simple burial,” you’ll bury your loved one soon after their passing without a viewing or funeral services.
These burials still incur many of the costs we mentioned above. However, they are still a way to save several thousand, with the average direct burial in Texas costing around $4,900-$5,300.
What additional costs factor into the price of traditional cremation and burial services? It’s easy to get blindsided by smaller fees, some of which the average person might not anticipate.
Here are some of the charges you might expect from traditional services:
To transport your loved one to the funeral home where they will be embalmed or cremated, you’ll need to hire transportation. The transportation of remains can cost anywhere from $200 to $400.
This fee, which often costs over $2,000, covers the labor and equipment of the funeral home. Unlike other fees on this list, this fee is often required and non-negotiable.
Many funeral homes also charge additional fees for other preparations, including dressing, grooming, and otherwise arranging your loved one in the casket. This may be necessary for a funeral service, whether you’ve chosen burial or cremation.
If you choose to have a final viewing of the body, you’ll often do so in a funeral home whether you cremate or bury your loved one. For the use of these facilities and the cost of its staff, you’ll pay a few hundred dollars. For a funeral ceremony, you may pay even more.
If you opt for a service or viewing, you’ll likely want printed items like memorial cards, pamphlets, prayer cards, or schedules. Some people also purchase a register book. The prices of these things can vary based on the size, type, and quality of the item as well as how many you’ll need, but you may pay anywhere from $50 to several hundred dollars.
Flowers can turn into a huge expense if you aren’t careful! Expect to spend $50-100 per arrangement, with larger arrangements costing several hundred dollars.
If you’ve chosen cremation as the more affordable option, you still might balk at the list of fees above. However, there are several ways to save money:
Funeral homes must allow you to choose only the products and services you prefer. This right is protected under the FTC’s Funeral Rule.
You should be able to reach out for a written price list of available options. This makes it easy to choose services based on your budget and preferences. It also makes it easy to shop around for multiple estimates.
Your chosen cremation funeral home must also give you an itemized statement of what you owe and the total cost you’ve incurred.
This is a good negotiation rule in general: don’t mention the upper limit of what you can pay up front! This prevents seedy providers from trying to talk you into services you don’t need as long as they fall within your price limits.
For most cremations, the urn will be one of the most expensive things you buy. If you can’t find one at a reasonable price at the funeral home you’re working with, shop at third-party retailers or online.
Funeral services can get expensive. Consider planning an alternative memorial service that you coordinate on your own. Plan a meal at a restaurant, arrange a memorial at your own home, do a group hike, or plant a tree, for example.
Here’s the bottom line: the average cremation cost will almost always be less expensive than a burial, though the service is no less meaningful. If you’re trying to honor your loved one without spending beyond your budget, finding practical and affordable options can help.
When you’re hoping to find simple and transparent services, we hope you’ll trust Lone Star Cremation. We pride ourselves on offering affordable and convenient cremation services to the greater Dallas/Fort Worth area. To learn more, get in touch with us or start your arrangement online today.
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