Average Funeral Costs 2020
How much the "average" funeral costs isn’t an easy thing to figure out - the Funeral Board of Manitoba explains: "costs depend entirely on the goods and services selected by you". The analysis of costs below draws on data from a few sources, then expands on that data in order to give an accurate picture of the average funeral costs in Manitoba in 2020.
One of the most useful sources we have available is data from InMemory. Updated about a year ago, they tell us the average funeral cost in Manitoba for a traditional funeral is $12,094. They source their data from hundreds of funeral homes around the country, so we can say it’s a fairly accurate estimate. Graveside funerals, which abstain from having a service in a place of worship, cost on average $11,855; only $239 less. This means that if you’re worried you don’t have the budget for a more traditional service, you shouldn’t be - the price difference is marginal.
The next point to look at is cremation and here, the price difference is rather remarkable. For a service and cremation, the average cost is $6,089 - about half the price of a traditional funeral. That cost doesn’t include a cemetery plot; when a plot is added, the average cost goes up to $8,739 - an increase of $2,650. While some people prefer a cemetery plot, scattering ceremonies have become increasingly common and a plot is no longer a necessity. For direct cremation, the fee without a cemetery plot is, on average, $3,665.
We can learn more about average funeral costs by looking at a poll conducted by the Funeral Service Association of Canada. This poll found that the average cost for a funeral in Canada that fulfills basic legal requirements is $6,000 - this does not include a casket, cemetery lot, nor many other items. They conducted this poll in response to the Canada Pension Plan death benefit which is capped at $2,500 and has not yet been adjusted for inflation.
The time of year in which a burial takes place can also influence its cost, though the total cost will not change drastically. The cost of burial increases in the wintertime; more hours of labour are required to dig the plot because the ground can be frozen. This means wintertime burials are, on average, slightly more expensive than other seasons (an increase of around $100-$200)
One important thing to keep in mind is that this analysis is looking at average prices; no two funerals are the same. Funeral homes must provide you exact prices with no obligation. An important factor to consider when choosing a funeral home is the service fee - it can be well over $6,000 depending on which you choose. While funerals can be expensive, we offer affordable funeral services in Winnipeg that Transcona residents can trust.
