Articles and Advice

The Cost of Cremation vs. Burial: Which Is More Affordable?

When your loved one passes, you must quickly decide their final disposition. Most people will choose to either be buried or cremated. But which is the “right” choice? 

While it entirely depends on the preference of the departed, it’s also important to consider the cost of cremation vs. burial. Let’s look at those differences so you can organize a service that properly honors your loved one.

Burial Costs

According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the median cost for a burial funeral in the United States is $7,848. Let’s break down why funeral burials can cost this much:

• 
  Transferring remains to the funeral home - $350: A professional should transfer your loved one to the funeral home—they will know how to treat them with proper care and respect.
• Embalming - $775: Under California law, departed individuals must be embalmed or otherwise preserved if their final disposition does not occur within 24 hours of their passing. Since most funerals take longer than 24 hours to plan, that means burials often require your loved one to be embalmed.
• Dressing the body and other preparations - $275: Medical devices may need to be removed from your loved one after their passing. Additionally, if the funeral includes an open-casket viewing, they will need to be dressed and have makeup applied.
• Funeral service and viewing facilities - $965: The venue or facility you use to greet guests and conduct the funeral ceremony usually costs quite a bit. However, you may be able to reduce this cost if you choose not to have a viewing.
• Burial casket - $2,500: Caskets will comprise a large portion of your budget. This is not something you want to cut corners on, as it will protect your loved one’s body for the rest of time.
• Hearse rental - $325: Transporting your loved one from the funeral home to the burial grounds is a more ceremonious affair, and a hearse helps maintain that sentiment.
• Service car - $150: A service car or van will help you transport other items you may need for the burial, like large floral arrangements.
• Printed materials for the memorial package - $183: This includes printed photos of your loved one and physical programs guests can hold onto as a keepsake.
• Non-declinable service fees - $2,300: On top of everything else, most funeral homes include a nonnegotiable general service charge.

While the funeral home you work with may have different prices for each of these services, this is generally what you can expect. 

Natural Burials

If you wish to bury your loved one but can’t justify the cost, you could consider a natural burial. Natural burials are when you forgo the embalming and use a biodegradable casket, like cardboard, or softwoods like pine or maple.

How much would this reduce the cost? Between the biodegradable casket, burial plot, and funeral service, you can expect a natural burial to cost anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000.

Cremation Costs

Aside from natural burial costs vs. cremation, you can usually expect cremation to cost less than a traditional burial. However, cremation costs can vary depending on the combination of services you choose. 

• Direct cremation - $895: A direct cremation means your loved one will be cremated the same day as their passing. That means no viewing casket, no embalming charge, and no beautification required (among other things). If you have more questions about this process, please refer to our frequently asked questions.
• Cremation with a viewing - $6,970: If you wish to have a viewing and funeral ceremony before the cremation, you will have to pay for much of what is required for a traditional funeral, including body preservation, a venue reservation, and every other service that makes a viewing possible. While it is cheaper than a traditional funeral and burial, it will still be expensive.
• Cremation with a memorial service - $3,000: You may forgo the viewing but still have a memorial service with your loved one’s cremated remains present. You will still have to pay for a location to host the service, but you won’t have to pay for the costs associated with actually viewing the body.

If you’re looking for something basic, however, All California Cremation offers packages including a small family viewing for as little as $1,395.

Find the Best Solution for Your Loved One

While funeral services can be expensive, they shouldn’t deter your decision or the wishes of your loved one. But it is important to understand the costs so you can better navigate the logistics of planning the service.

If you have more questions about the costs of cremation vs. regular burials or would like to know more about our cremation process, please give All California Cremation a call. We’ll be happy to answer any questions.