Not only can it become overwhelming when you are still grieving, but it can put a dent in your finances if you are not prepared. Our handy guide helps you break down costs that can occur while preparing for a funeral and how you can be better prepared.

How much does a funeral cost in South Africa?

The pandemic has caused funeral parlours to hike their prices by 25%, an expense that can prove to be a heavy blow to families who have no financial backup plan to pay for funeral expenses. The costs that come with funeral arrangements in South Africa can differ based on how a family chooses to organize a funeral. You could be looking at anything between R10 000 - R86 000 or more, depending on how elaborate the funeral is. 

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What funeral arrangement costs should you consider?

Juggling the costs for before, during, and after the funeral boils down to doing your research and comparing the options that are available to you. It is more ideal to have this sorted while a person is still living to avoid dealing with the financial stress on a day that is meant for grieving. Expenses that need to be taken into consideration are:

• Coffin or cremation costs. The costs for this will be based on a family's preference. Cremations tend to be less costly than coffins with the average cremation costs in South Africa ranging between R7 000 - R15 000. Coffins can cost anything between R800 - R50 000 or more. 
• Gravesite. These tend to differ based on the municipal costs on where you would like to bury a loved one, ranging from a minimum of R1 000 - R6 000 or more.
• Tombstones. Based on the size and material that is used you could be looking at anything between R2,900 - R95,000 or more.
• Transport. There is no set price range due to the array of available options. You can reduce costs by carpooling and sticking to the pandemic funeral guidelines.
• Funeral parlour costs. You will have to consider funeral home fees whether you are planning on cremation or burying a loved one. The costs start at R5 000 - 10 000, but most homes include this fee to carry out most of the funeral arrangements on your behalf.
• Catering costs. Food could be the biggest ticket item that comes with organizing a funeral based on how many people will be there and what meal you choose to prepare. You could face anything between R30 per person - R5 000.
• Flowers. This can be included in a funeral package.
• Venue hire. Based on how many people will be in attendance, for a tent hire you could be looking at anything between R500 – R5000 or more.

Is having a funeral policy worth it?

Having a funeral policy can help many families shoulder the costs that come with funeral arrangements to make sure that their loved one is buried with dignity. You have the option of choosing how much funeral cover you would like to have with funeral policies ranging from R10 000 to R50 000 or more in South Africa. 

Checking the benefits that come with a cover can help you know what you can expect when it comes to the claim stage. Funeral cover benefits will differ from insurer to insurer. For example, MiWayLife funeral cover benefits include: 

• Accelerated funeral benefit that pays out within 48 hours
• Funeral cover for you, your spouse, 8 children, 4 parents/parents-in-law and 8 extended family members.
• Cover options range R10 000 to R50 000

Keep in mind that the higher the cover amount is the more likely it is that your premiums will increase.