South West ‘most expensive’ region for cremation, study finds

The most expensive region for cremation is the South West of England, where the average cost of cremation is £884, according to funeral director comparison website Funeral Guide. 

The company has uncovered how much it costs to be cremated or buried in over 2,400 cemeteries and more than 300 crematoriums across 12 different regions of the country. 

In England the average cost of cremation is £830, whereas in Scotland it is £15 cheaper at £815.

The study also found the most expensive crematoriums in the country were Beckenham, Chichester, Counties (Towcester), Dundee and Parkgrove (Friockheim, Angus) where the cost of cremation was £1,070.

The average cost of a burial  was found to be the most expensive in England at £1,781 followed by Scotland (£1,650), then Wales (£1,685) with Northern Ireland the cheapest at £520. 

The cheapest place to be buried in the UK is Spalding, Lincolnshire, where interment for 50 years in Hallgate Cemetery costs only £150.  

The most expensive cemetery to be buried in is Highgate Cemetery in London, which costs £21,975 for a local resident.

Ed Gallois, CEO of Funeral Guide, said: “Nothing prepares us for the death of a loved one, until we are faced with it. Most of us have no experience of what needs to be done or where to go for help. 

“Price comparison websites have transformed the way people buy services such as insurance, energy and mortgages – helping people save money and make informed choices.”

He added: “By providing a platform to compare cremation and burial fees, as well as funeral directors, Funeral Guide aims to deliver the same kind of positive impact in helping the 600,000 plus families that face bereavement each year in the UK.”