This is how much you will pay for a funeral!

Like electricity, taxi fares and your monthly grocery haul, funerals costs are on the up and up. We researched the cost of a funeral in 2025 so you can ensure you and your loved ones have the cover you need for a beautiful send-off.

Burial plots, coffins and undertaker fees

Although you can cut out the expensive extras in a funeral service, there are some basics that need to be budgeted for when determining how much cover you need.

Burial plots

An adult burial plot will cost R2 200 to R11 000 in a municipal facility, depending on the cemetery and whether or not the deceased was resident in the municipality. In Joburg, for example, plots cost R2 250 for residents and R6 749 for non-residents in all cemeteries except West Park, Brixton and Braamfontein, where the costs are nearly double.

Plots in a private memorial park start at around R14 000 but can cost over R50 000! A plot in Enokuthula Park (East Johannesburg) is available from R14 000 and Nasrec Memorial Park plots start at R34 000.

There may also be an additional once-off cemetery/memorial park fee for weekend and/or public holiday access, with Joburg cemeteries charging a R1 144 public holiday fee.

Coffins

Cheap coffins are on offer from around R1 000, but these are very basic models only. Average prices for standard coffins available from undertakers are around R3 000 to R10 000.

Undertaker costs

Your undertaker offers a range of services including transporting the deceased from the place of death to a mortuary or funeral parlour and to the burial site, preparing the body for the coffin, including washing and dressing the body, and embalming if necessary. Undertakers can also take care of admin such as getting a death certificate. If an autopsy is required, your undertaker can help arrange this, although it will add around R6 500 to the bill.

For a standard funeral, expect undertaker costs to be around R10  000.

Gathering costs

You can save or splurge on gathering costs, depending on the number of mourners, and food and drinks served.

Buffet catering starts at around R80 a person, with formal plated meals from R150 per person for one course. The more courses, the higher the price, excluding drinks. Soft drinks, tea and coffee will add at least another R20 per person. Alcohol can double your catering bill. Marquee costs, with chairs and tables, can add at least another R7 000 to the bill.

You may also need venue hire in addition to or as an alternative to a marquee. Municipal halls start at around R1 000 for a morning, private memorial parks offer their facilities from R2 000 per hour.

You can save money by doing the catering yourself, but you will still need to buy food, hire cutlery, crockery and glasses, and cover the costs of electricity and/or gas used for cooking. Some sites will also require a catering permit.

Other costs

Other costs you may need to take into account include:

• Slaughter animal costs: cows from R11 000, goats and sheep from R2 200
• Chapel hire: R800 an hour in municipal cemeteries, R2 000 to 3 000 per hour in private memorial parks
• Flowers: R1 000 minimum
• Transporting mourners and relatives: R1 000 minimum
• Accommodation for out-of-town family: R1 000 minimum
• Printed order of service or programme for those attending the funeral: From R800  
• Extras: budget at least R1 000 for items such as catering permits, deposits and any breakages (glass and crockery)

Don't overlook the cost of cleansing ceremonies and the unveiling

Cleansing ceremonies are an important funeral rite in some African cultures. When budgeting for funerals don't overlook the cost of these ceremonies, which could add thousands to your list of expenses. 1Life Insurance staff member Andiswa Nyembe says her family held two cleansing ceremonies when her mother passed on, one for her father and one for children and close relatives. The costs included a goat for slaughter, food for attendees, travel costs as well as gifts for the ladies who sat by the coffin.

Costs for her mother’s unveiling included décor and catering, a headstone, a bus service, programmes, attire, mobile toilets and more.

Manage expectations to keep costs manageable

Key to keeping funeral costs within budget is to ensure families agree to not overspend.

Talk to family members about how much cover you have for family funerals and agree to stick to budgets and arrange modest, affordable funerals. Managing expectations upfront and getting the family to agree on funeral costs will go a long way towards not overspending. Be sure to let your family know that a small gathering is preferable, with family and close friends only, and that you don’t need an expensive coffin or the most expensive burial plot.

Top tip: Always ask your service providers including your undertaker where you can save on funeral costs.

Use your funeral cover benefits to reduce costs

These will make funerals more affordable! 1Life Insurance funeral cover policies include a repatriation service that provides for transportation of the deceased from place of death to a funeral home, and a R5 000 headstone benefit. Policies also offer a R6 000 grocery benefit when the main member passes.

Review your cover annually

Funeral costs have increased, so you should review the sum assured amounts for all members covered on your policy and compare them to the price of a funeral once a year. While you can find ways to save and lower the costs of funerals, there may be times when increasing your cover is the best way to ensure you and your loved ones can cover the costs of a respectable funeral without using savings or taking on debt.