Additional Coverage:
- States with the Highest Funeral Costs in America (cheapism.com)
The Cost of Saying Goodbye: Top 10 States Where Funerals Are Most Expensive
The financial landscape of daily life is heavily influenced by geography, with everything from groceries in Hawaii to real estate in California reflecting regional economic factors. What might come as a surprise, however, is that the cost of a funeral also varies significantly across state lines. A new report from Sands of Time, a company specializing in handcrafted memorial artwork, sheds light on these disparities.
While the median cost of a casket remains a consistent $3,500 nationwide, other funeral expenses can fluctuate dramatically. This report identifies the ten states where families face the highest costs when laying a loved one to rest.
1. Minnesota
Topping the list, Minnesota recorded the highest average funeral cost in the nation at $9,695. While the state’s embalming fee, at $760, falls around the national midpoint, the cost for basic funeral services in Minnesota stands out as the most expensive nationwide, averaging $3,139.
2. Connecticut
Following closely behind, Connecticut ranks as the second most expensive state for funerals, with an average total cost of $9,571. Key contributors to this high figure include an embalming fee of $839 (the eighth-highest nationally), a funeral ceremony cost of $720 (third-highest), and the expense of transferring the body to a funeral home, which averages $486 (also third-highest).
3. Massachusetts
Families in Massachusetts can expect an average funeral cost of $9,530. Basic funeral services here are among the most expensive nationally, priced at $2,540.
Other notable expenses include embalming at $765, viewings at $586, and a funeral ceremony cost of $719, ranking as the fourth most expensive. Hearse rental also contributes to the higher costs, averaging $237, the seventh-highest in the U.S.
4. Hawaii
Despite some surprisingly lower costs for basic services ($1,580, ranking fourth-least expensive), the overall cost of a funeral in Hawaii averages $9,467. The Aloha State holds the distinction for the nation’s most expensive embalming costs at $969. Viewings are also notably high at $735 (second-highest), as is hearse rental at $238 (sixth-highest).
5. New Jersey
New Jersey’s average funeral cost is $9,443. The Garden State reports the highest national costs for dressing and casketing at $423, and the second-highest for embalming at $949. While basic services are relatively moderate at $2,158, other expenses like viewings ($650, third-highest), funeral ceremonies ($603, ranking within the top 10), and hearse costs ($311, second-highest) contribute to its overall high ranking.
6. Iowa
In Iowa, the average funeral cost is $9,382. Despite relatively affordable funeral services at $312, the state’s basic funeral services are the second-highest nationally, at $2,854, trailing only Minnesota. Embalming costs also contribute significantly, averaging $836, the ninth-highest nationwide.
7. Rhode Island
The nation’s smallest state, Rhode Island, presents a substantial average funeral cost of $9,214. While embalming fees ($725) and body transfer to the funeral home ($373) are moderate compared to other high-cost states, viewings remain an expensive component, averaging $527.
8. Delaware
In Delaware, the total cost for funeral services averages $9,202. Basic funeral services are among the nation’s highest at $2,372 (10th highest). The state also sees elevated costs for transferring a body to a funeral home ($408) and embalming, which is priced at $874, the fourth-highest nationally.
9. Maryland
Maryland records an average funeral cost of $9,188. Contributing to this figure are high embalming costs, averaging $889 (the third-highest nationally), and viewings, which are priced at $525, making them the ninth-highest in the country.
10. Illinois
Rounding out the top ten, Illinois has an average funeral cost of $9,184. While the embalming fee is near the national midpoint at $755, basic funeral services are notably high at $2,444 (eighth-highest nationally). Viewings also contribute significantly to the total, averaging $547.
Read More About This Story:
- States with the Highest Funeral Costs in America (cheapism.com)