Today I Learned: The Cost of Dying in the Philippines

It’s that time of the year again when we remember our loved ones who have gone ahead of us. But have you ever thought about just how much it costs to die in the Philippines? You might want to get these expenses sorted if you want to kick the bucket without a worry.

Let’s first start off with a fun fact (if you can call it that). In case you missed it, the Supreme Court ruled in March 2023 that Senior Citizens are entitled to a 20 percent discount on interment services, which are included in the funeral and burial expenses covered by law.

The country’s highest court defines a burial service as any service offered in connection with the “final disposition, entombment or interment of human remains.”

You have to give it to the SC for making sure our old folk get to save a buck, thanks to the state’s obligation under the Constitution to implement social security programs for the elderly.

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“It would be unreasonable to infer that Congress intended to differentiate between the deceased’s final solace for the purpose of granting the 20 percent discount, absent a clear legislative intent to the contrary,” the tribunal said, citing SC Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier’s separate concurring opinion.

Now, getting to the nitty-gritty of the business of dying: you have to start by transferring your dearly departed to a funeral home, along with the basic funeral packages—embalming, flowers, and a viewing setup—which will set you back at least P8,000. These costs also tend to increase the more comprehensive the package is.

And even before that, you would need to secure a death certificate from the Philippine Statistics Authority that would cost about P150 to P500.

We are basing this on the estimates and averages provided by Golden Future Life Plans’ website that made the breakdown at the start of the year.

Next, you’ll need a casket or coffin to lie in, and the most affordable options will run you about P3,000, while higher-end options can cost around P100,000.

Then comes the wake and the funeral service, and given how expensive these can be, it’s easy to see why a lot of Filipino families tend to cut costs by holding them at home instead. A budget funeral home service ranges from P8,000 to P10,000; mid-range funeral homes at P15,000 to a whopping P250,000; with the higher-end memorial chapels setting you back P300,000 and P500,000.

You also have to provide food and drinks for the guests at a wake, with a budget of at least P5,000 to P25,000, depending on how many attendees there are.

Then if your deceased relative isn’t getting cremated, you would need formal attire worth at least P500 and a tad bit more based on quality and preference. You should also factor in religious services that may have accompanying fees, unless you know the minister involved.

Speaking of cremation, this is usually seen as a cost-effective option, with basic services starting at P20,000 and comprehensive packages, including viewing and an urn, going up to P140,000. Cremated loved ones will also likely need to be stored in a columbarium niche, which can cost about P20,000 to P150,000.

This is not even taking into account whether the person underwent a lengthy and pricey hospitalization before signing off, which usually needs dough in the hundreds of thousands. 

So, whether you’re a youngster or approaching the twilight years, you have to remember returning to dirt may cost you or your family a pretty penny to tribute you in a respectable way.