Funeral costs have increased at almost twice the rate of inflation over the past 20 years according to a report out today
SunLife’s Cost of Dying Report found that after two years of lower funeral costs – in part due to the pandemic – prices are on the rise again. In 2023, the average funeral cost[1] was £4,141 – 4.7% more than in 2022.
With a 4.7% increase year on year, funeral costs have risen below the high rates of inflation the UK has seen over the past year.
However, since the first Cost of Dying Report in 2004, the cost of a basic funeral has increased 126%. That’s 54% higher than the rate of inflation over the same period
While the average cost of a basic funeral remains just shy of 2020’s all-time high, the total cost of dying,which also includes send-off costs and probate fees, increased by 5% to £9,658, the highest figure ever. A hike in send-off costs to £2,768 and in professional fees to £2,749 means the overall cost of dying is up £458 year on year.
