Read our updated Funeral Cost Guide.

Celebrating our loved ones and saying goodbye in a fitting manner does not come cheap.

There are many different ways of farewelling our friends and family. From scattering ashes at a favourite beach to jettisoning them into deep space, funerals are an expensive affair.

Even a basic cremation starts at around $3,000.

The cost of a funeral ranges from $4,500 to well over $10,000. There are options to keep costs down if you need to – the timber used for the coffin, or the addition of ornate trimmings can bump the costs up considerably.

Some people prefer for their lives to be celebrated, rather than mourned in a traditional service. For a fee the funeral director can organise this “celebration of life” at a location away from a traditional funeral parlour.

If the body is cremated, the ashes can be stored at a cemetery for a fee, or the funeral director may organise a “scattering” of the ashes. However this does depend on state laws and regulations. For example, ashes cannot be tossed into the sea or river systems without permission.

If a burial is chosen, you will have to factor in the costs of the cemetery plot, the gravedigger, as well as costs associated with the memorial plaque, tombstone or crypt.

Many funeral directors offer pre-paid plans for funerals. This is a thoughtful way to ensure that your family doesn’t have to undergo any more stress at a difficult time.