How much does a funeral cost in 2026?

There is no single figure, because funeral homes, coffins and memorial receptions are priced freely. The parish share is public: in Helsinki, cremation with placement in a memorial grove costs a local resident EUR 500 and a coffin grave with coffin burial EUR 1,170; in Turku the figures are EUR 550 and EUR 1,350 (2026 price lists).

Is cremation cheaper than a coffin burial?

In the parish price lists, yes. In Helsinki, cremation with placement in a memorial grove costs a local resident EUR 500 and a coffin grave with coffin burial EUR 1,170 (2026). The final difference also depends on the price of the coffin or urn and the funeral home's services.

Do prices vary by region?

Parish fees vary between parish unions and by place of residence. The capital is not systematically more expensive on these fees: Helsinki's coffin burial fee for a local resident is EUR 690, while the equivalent burial service in Turku costs EUR 850 (2026). Prices of funeral homes and caterers vary from business to business.

Total Funeral Costs in 2026: What the Price Is Made Of

Q: Do people outside the church pay more?

Not for the grave, burial or cremation: section 6 of the Burial Act requires the same basis for fees for everyone entitled to be buried in the parish cemetery. The parish may charge a non-member for using a chapel or church, EUR 400 on a weekday in Helsinki (2026).

An overview of the costs

The price of a funeral has three parts. The parish burial fees are public and the same for everyone living in the same area. Funeral home services and products and the memorial reception are priced freely, and their cost is only known from a quote.

Burial fees depend on the type of burial and on whether the deceased lived in the parish union's area. For the other costs, the funeral home's quote, the choice of coffin or urn and the number of guests at the memorial reception matter most.

Cost items broken down

Funeral home services

A funeral home's invoice typically covers transport, storage and preparation of the deceased, coordination of the arrangements and the paperwork. Prices vary between funeral homes. Ask for an itemised quote with every service and product on its own line, and compare more than one funeral home. See comparing funeral home prices.

Coffin or urn

The choice of coffin affects the funeral home's invoice. The price depends on the material and model, so ask for it as a separate line.

Venue and ceremony

In Helsinki and Turku, a local church member pays nothing for the funeral chapel. The parish may charge a non-member:

Parish union	Chapel fee for a non-member (2026)
Helsinki	EUR 400 on weekdays, EUR 630 on Saturdays
Turku and Kaarina	EUR 170 (lower chapel of the Chapel of the Holy Cross, Maaria chapel), other chapels and churches EUR 390

In Turku the fee also applies to non-residents. Fees for a civil celebrant and musicians are agreed with them directly.

Burial plot and burial fees

Under section 6 of the Burial Act, fees must be set on the same basis for everyone entitled to be buried in the parish cemetery. Church membership therefore does not affect the price, but people from outside the area pay more. Fees for a local resident in 2026:

Fee	Helsinki	Turku and Kaarina
Coffin grave, 2 places	EUR 480	EUR 500
Coffin burial (opening, closing and restoring the grave)	EUR 690	EUR 850
Urn grave	EUR 180	EUR 300
Memorial grove	EUR 90	EUR 100
Burial of the urn or placement in a memorial grove	EUR 150	EUR 150 / 100
Cremation	EUR 260	EUR 350

Sources: Helsinki parish union price list from 1 February 2026 and Turku and Kaarina parish union price list 2026.

Flowers and decorations

The price of floral tributes depends on their size and the flowers chosen, and the florist quotes it when you order. Flower costs can be kept down with one main arrangement and seasonal flowers.

Memorial reception catering

The cost of catering grows directly with the number of guests. Catering can be ordered from a caterer or arranged by the family at home or in parish premises. It is worth comparing caterers' quotes.

Obituary notice

The price of a death notice depends on the newspaper and the size of the notice. The paper tells you the price before publication.

Other costs

Order of service, printed or home-printed
Photography, if wanted
Headstone, which can be bought after the funeral
Storage of the deceased if the funeral is weeks away: in Helsinki EUR 50 per started week for the first three weeks, in Turku free for three weeks (2026)

Two examples of parish fees

The examples include only the parish fees for a local resident in 2026. The funeral home, coffin or urn, flowers, notice and memorial reception come on top.

Type of burial	Helsinki	Turku and Kaarina
Cremation and memorial grove	260 + 90 + 150 = EUR 500	350 + 100 + 100 = EUR 550
Coffin grave and coffin burial	480 + 690 = EUR 1,170	500 + 850 = EUR 1,350

Regional differences

Parish burial fees vary between parish unions, and people from outside the area pay more than residents. A coffin grave, for example, costs a non-resident EUR 970 in Helsinki and EUR 900 in Turku. The capital is not systematically more expensive on these fees: Helsinki's coffin burial fee is lower than Turku's.

Prices of funeral homes, florists and caterers vary from business to business, so compare quotes where you live.

Tips for saving

Ask for an itemised quote from at least two funeral homes.
Consider cremation and a memorial grove, the cheapest option in the parish price lists.
Arrange the catering yourself or with the help of family and friends.
Choose the coffin on price without guilt: its price says nothing about respect.
One floral arrangement is enough, and seasonal flowers cost less.
Print the order of service yourself.
Check the chapel fee in advance if the deceased did not belong to the church.

If the estate has no funds for the essential funeral costs, a funeral grant can be applied for from the wellbeing services county as supplementary social assistance (täydentävä toimeentulotuki).