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How much does a funeral cost in Florida?
The typical cost of a traditional burial in Florida comes in just under the national average.
Your average cost of a burial in the US runs a steep $6,723.92 according to the latest research from finder.com. You’ll likely pay just under that in Florida — unless you’re in Tallahassee, where the average is $7,230.
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Average cost of a funeral in Florida
The average cost of a burial in Florida is $6,501. Funeral costs are more than just the burial though, and the total for a traditional funeral runs just over $10,700.
Here’s a breakdown of the average costs associated with each in Florida:
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Burial | $6,501 |
| Casket (wood) | $2,984 |
| Transportation (hearse) | $325 |
| Private viewing | $200 |
| Embalming | $725 |
Casket, transportation, private viewing, embalming and urn costs are based on national averages found in a study conducted by the National Funeral Directors Association in 2017. Remember that these are average numbers and may vary depending on which funeral home you work with.
Average cost of cremation in Florida
Cremation is typically much less expensive than a traditional burial, even with services — and it’s no different in Florida. On average, a cremation with services in Florida runs around $3,397. Without services, also known as direct cremation, can be as little as $695.
While traditional funerals have a lot of additional costs, the only other purchase you’ll generally have to worry about with a cremation is the urn. With the average price of an urn in Florida at $275, it brings the total average cost with services to $3,672.
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Cremation | $3,407 |
| Urn | $275 |
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How to pay for a funeral in Florida
Funeral costs can be intimidating during an already immensely stressful time, but you have funding options.
If you’re making your own arrangements, consider:
- Life insurance. A means to provide for your family after the fact. It can cover everything from lost income to funeral expenses and leftover debt. Though we’re unable to find direct data to support differences in life insurance costs by state, some experts suggest living in areas prone to natural disasters — such as hurricanes — may result in higher life insurance premiums.
- Burial insurance. Meant to only cover end of life costs, this insurance comes with lower coverage amounts than term or whole life insurance. You can read more about the differences using our guide.
- Setting aside money in a POD account. A payable on death (POD) account is a bank account that’s separate from your normal finances and only to be withdrawn from once you pass away. The idea is to build up savings specifically for your end of life costs in a stable, low-risk way.
- Prepaying a funeral home. While this is an option for some, it may be a necessity for others. Some senior care facilities in Florida require burial arrangements be prepaid. However, this may not be the most cost-effective or risk-free way.
To cover the cost of a loved one’s ceremony, options include:
- Paying out of pocket. While not ideal, cash or credit can be used to cover the costs. If you’re not one of the lucky few with a couple extra grand kicking around, it may be worth pooling family funds or looking into low-cost burial options if this is your primary way of paying.
- Using the deceased’s estate. Bank accounts, the $225 Social Security payment that’s due upon death if qualified for, investment accounts and selling physical assets can help reduce out-of-pocket costs if arrangements aren’t made ahead of time. According to the 2019 Forbes list of billionaires, 52 are Florida residents — a factor that can skew the average estate worth.
- Taking out a loan. Going into debt to cover end of life costs is far from the easiest decision to make. Taking out a funeral loan comes with the same drawbacks as taking out any other unsecured loan — no collateral usually results in higher APRs than secured loans, monthly payments can put a strain on your finances and the amount you’re eligible for may not completely cover the outstanding costs.
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Does Florida have funeral assistance programs?
The only assistance the state of Florida offers is in the form of a mandate. Those who pass away indigent and whose bodies are unclaimed are given a proper burial by Florida Health and Human Services. Burial assistance may also be provided by the county the deceased was living in depending on if the person was a victim of a crime or income limits are met.
The Funeral Consumers Alliance (FCA) is a national nonprofit organization that has four groups in Florida. Becoming a member of one of these groups may give access to lower cost funeral services, but some may be able to provide resources or support regardless of membership.
Bottom line
While Florida doesn’t have any official assistance programs, you can still reach out to a local FCA group to lower the cost of your own final expenses or get help finding low-cost options for a loved one. You can also look into burial alternatives that may be less expensive.
If you’re working on your own arrangements, you may want to look further into life insurance to learn whether it’s a good funding option.
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