Title: BBC News | UK | Funeral costs rise
Headings: Funeral costs rise
Regional differences
Stressful time

Content: BBC News | UK | Funeral costs rise









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The BBC's Andrew Verity
"Grieving relatives rarely get a true picture of funeral costs"
real 28k

Monday, 3 April, 2000, 06:28 GMT 07:28 UK
Funeral costs rise
The most expensive burial cost almost £4,000
The cost of dying in Britain has risen by up to 25% over the past two years, according to a survey. Research carried out for friendly society Oddfellows found that it now costs an average of £2,048 for a burial service. A cremation is cheaper, but still costs about £1,215 - a 12% increase in two years. Over the last nine years, the cost of a send-off for loved ones has risen by 129% for burials and 67% for cremations. Regional differences
But there is a significant difference to the cost of a dignified departure depending on where the burial takes place. Funerals in London were the most expensive, at £2,646 - £598 higher than the national average. The most expensive burial anywhere in the country was found in Kentish Town, north London, at a cost of £3,928. Scotland, Wales, the West Midlands and North West England also cost more than average, with funeral costs in Wales rising by 72% in two years to £2,233. The cheapest place to die and be buried was south-west England, where it cost £1,545 for a standard service.