Cost of Cremation
The average cost of a cremation in New Mexico in 2019 was $4,517. Nationally, this cost is between $4,000 and $7,000. The cremation itself costs around $350, but there are many other associated costs involved with funeral services and cremation.
What goes into the cost of cremation?
The $350 estimated cost for cremation accounts only for the turning of the body to ashes. However, prior to that point, most families decide to hold a funeral—the funeral home charges for the space, the labor, and service fees for transportation and preparation. There are also charges for music, pamphlets, flowers, and more.
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How does cremation compare to burial?
Cremation eliminates the need for a vault, which can add up to around $2,000 to your bill. You also do not need to purchase a plot of land for burial, which can range in price but is becoming more scarce as less space is available. You can also choose to forgo the touch-up features included in most funerals with viewings, such as makeup and hair, embalming, preparation, and the like. You may also have the option to rent a casket for the viewing if you choose to have one. Some people have the service after the cremation, with the urn present as a reminder of their loved one.
The burial itself is not a large expense. You need the vault to prevent the casket from exposure. These costs mostly amount to labor and equipment for the burial itself. Burial adds $2,000 to $3,000 to the price of a funeral.
How expensive are cremation urns?
You do not have to purchase an urn through your funeral home. By instead finding your urn on your own, you may be able to find a more special object and cut out some of the middle-man price hikes. A cremation urn costs around $275, and a cremation casket costs around $1,000. Purchase an urn that speaks to you because it is an important visual reminder of your loved one.
Why should I go with cremation?
Cremation is a choice for people who want to save money or wish to hold on to the remains of their loved one as a keepsake to remember them by. For people who would prefer closed-casket funerals, cremation is a cost-saving option to both have the ceremony appropriate to the occasion but to avoid the expense of a casket and burial.
People with family grave plots are least likely to go with cremation. This is also a less appealing choice for people who dream of a headstone with a special message engraved on it. Visiting a cemetery can be a good way for loved ones to grieve and remember a person by. Maintaining the grave with flowers and spending time around the site can also be a healing experience for some people.
Whether you choose to have a funeral with a burial or cremation, Poarch Insurance can help you with funeral planning. For help navigating the costs of funerals and cremations, contact us today.