There is no single “Melbourne price” for a funeral. Costs depend on the provider, whether you choose burial or cremation, the services and merchandise you select, and charges from cemeteries and other third parties. This page explains where the money goes and how to get firm numbers.
National benchmarks
The most widely cited figures come from the National Funeral Directors Association’s 2023 General Price List Study, which reported these national median prices:
| Arrangement (national median, 2023) | Price |
|---|---|
| Funeral with viewing and burial (no vault) | $8,300 |
| Funeral with viewing and burial, including a vault | $9,995 |
| Funeral with viewing and cremation | $6,280 |
These medians cover funeral home charges only. They do not include cemetery costs such as the plot, opening and closing, or a headstone, and they are national, not local. Direct cremation and immediate burial cost considerably less than a full-service funeral because they leave out the viewing, ceremony and most merchandise.
What affects funeral cost
- Burial or cremation. Burial adds a casket, vault and cemetery charges. Cremation costs.
- Services you choose. A viewing, a funeral with the body present, a memorial or graveside service each carry facility and staff charges.
- Merchandise. Caskets range from about a thousand dollars to many thousands. Urns vary similarly. You may buy either elsewhere.
- Cemetery charges for the plot or niche, opening and closing, vault requirements and markers.
- Cash advance items the funeral home pays to others on your behalf: death certificates, obituary notices, clergy honoraria, flowers, and so on.
- Timing and travel, such as weekend services or bringing someone home from another state.
Your rights under the FTC Funeral Rule
Federal law gives every family specific pricing rights with any funeral home:
- You can get prices by phone without giving your name or other information.
- When you ask about arrangements in person, you must be given a written General Price List to keep.
- You must see the casket and outer burial container price lists before seeing the merchandise.
- You can buy only the goods and services you want, except the non-declinable basic services fee and anything required by law, which must be explained in writing.
- You can supply a casket or urn bought elsewhere without paying a handling fee.
- You must receive an itemized statement of everything you selected and its cost before you pay.
The General Price List explained, with questions to ask
Other costs to plan for
- Death certificates. The Florida Department of Health charges $5 for the first certified copy and $4 for each additional copy, with extra charges for rush service or online ordering. How many to order.
- Obituaries. Newspaper obituaries are often priced by length; funeral home websites usually post obituaries online.
- Cemetery markers are often bought months later from a monument company or the cemetery.
Help paying for a funeral
- Veterans: free burial in a national cemetery for eligible veterans, and VA burial allowances in some cases. Veterans benefits.
- Social Security: a one-time $255 payment to a qualifying spouse or child.
- Life insurance or preneed contracts the person may have had. Check papers and ask the funeral home to verify.
- Brevard County assistance: the county’s Housing and Human Services Department (Community Action Agency) offers limited cremation assistance for county residents who die with no relatives or resources able to pay. Eligibility is income-based; contact the Community Action Agency or dial 211.
Cost guides
- Average funeral costs: an itemized breakdown
- Cremation costs
- General Price List explained
- Buying your own casket
- Funeral cost planner
Sources
- National Funeral Directors Association, 2023 General Price List Study (national median prices), as reported in NFDA’s December 2023 release
- Federal Trade Commission, The FTC Funeral Rule
- Florida Department of Health, Death certificates
- Social Security Administration, Lump-sum death payment
This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws and fees change; confirm details with the agency or a licensed professional. Editorial standards