The high price of dying
CPSA’s report on the cost of funerals in NSW

After regularly receiving complaints from pensioners about the cost of a funeral, CPSA examined prices for so called no-frills funerals in NSW. CPSA contacted 124 undertakers requesting itemised quotes for a basic funeral and/or the least expensive funeral they had on offer.

Average prices were as follows:  

• A low-cost cremation in rural and regional NSW: $4,694.  
• In the Sydney region, the average cost of a low-cost cremation: $4,723.  

On average, these prices represent 27 per cent of a single pensioner’s annual income.  

Burials tended to be almost $3,000 extra. In the Sydney region, the average price for a low cost burial was $7,077.  

This represents 40 per cent of a single pensioner’s annual income.  

“It’s important to remember that these are prices for a no-frills funeral. CPSA wanted to determine what someone would pay for a funeral that only included the essentials. No fancy coffin, no flowers (if the undertaker allowed), and no intricate gravestone. Just the essentials.” 

“One quote for a basic funeral (burial) in the Sydney region was $14,640. That price represents 84 per cent of a single pensioner’s annual income. But these are the sorts of prices people are paying for what is an essential service.” 

Prices for goods and services that make up the funeral differed greatly. For example: 

• Undertakers’ professional fee ranged between $450 and $3,890.  
• Fee for transport of the body for distances under 30 kilometres varied between $95 and $1,995.
• The least expensive coffins available ranged in price from $340 up to $1,390. 

“These are essential goods and services for a funeral to take place. The variation in prices for the least expensive option says to us that there is a clear need for regulation with regard to pricing of a basic funeral.” 

An amendment to the Funeral Goods and Services Act came into force in February this year that defines a basic funeral service as a funeral that includes the essentials without unnecessary add-ons that can drive up the cost. This amendment was in response to the 2005 NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the Funeral Industry. 

The idea was to ensure that people on low incomes in NSW would have access to a ‘no-frills’ funeral. However, undertakers are not obliged to offer a basic funeral.  

“Of the 124 individual undertakers contacted, only 12 offer a basic funeral. That’s less than one in ten.” 

“Rural and regional NSW is the worst served, with only three of the 84 undertakers contacted offering a basic funeral.” 

“Clearly, the basic funeral amendment is having very little effect on the funeral industry in NSW and is why CPSA is calling for the compulsory provision of a basic funeral by every undertaker.” 

Media contact: 0410 612 182

Charmaine Crowe
Policy Coordinator
Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association (CPSA)
Level 9, 28 Foveaux Street Surry Hills NSW, 2010
Phone (02) 9281 3588
Mob 0410 612 182
Fax (02) 9281 9716