With a lack of conversation and planning around death contributing to the strain, people in Glasgow and across Scotland are finding themselves making difficult decisions while grieving.
Recent industry research reveals that a simple attended cremation now costs around £3,500, while a basic burial is about £4,800.
These figures exclude costs for flowers, transport, or a wake, and Scottish prices are broadly in line with these UK averages.
SunLife’s latest Cost of Dying Report puts the average attended funeral at £4,285 across the UK, rising slightly to £4,345 in Scotland.
Zack Sullivan, managing director of Simplicity, said: “If people don’t leave a plan, or talk about their wishes, it means that family and loved ones have to figure out the best way forward, at a time when they should be focusing on grief and celebrating the life of the person that died.
“That’s not the only problem, however, there’s also the cost factor to consider.
“Back in 2004, you could expect to pay around £1,800 for a funeral, but over time costs have risen while outpacing inflation, meaning that same funeral would now cost roughly £4,600.
“However, that covers a basic package, and when you add in additional elements it can become much more expensive.
“Flowers, transport, a memorial and gathering for a wake can all contribute to increased costs, which can add up quickly.
“The problem is that if you don’t know what your loved one wanted, you could end up with a lot of expense trying to work that out.”
Mr Sullivan said that the issue is not only financial but also deeply emotional, and is compounded by a national reluctance to discuss death and end-of-life plans.
He said: “As of 2025, a report showed that only 37% of UK adults have written a will, which really demonstrates that we collectively have a problem in planning for death.
“It’s easy to understand, it’s an emotional subject which makes people deal with things they’d rather avoid.
“It makes us face a world that goes on without us, and for a lot of people that can be a difficult concept.”
Marie Curie’s recent analysis shows that almost one in three people in Scotland die with unmet palliative care needs.
This equates to around 18,500 people each year whose symptoms and concerns are not fully addressed, leaving families to make end-of-life decisions with little guidance.
While financial support exists, it remains limited.
Social Security Scotland offers a Funeral Support Payment to people on certain benefits, covering essential costs for burial or cremation and offering a fixed contribution toward other funeral expenses.
However, support services and charities argue that this payment typically falls short of covering the full cost, leaving families to find hundreds or even thousands of pounds at short notice.
Mr Sullivan believes that breaking the national taboo around death is essential to easing both the emotional and financial pressure on families.
He said: “There are a lot of resources and initiatives out there to help us deal with those conversations, but people need to take advantage of them if we’re going to reverse our inability to talk about something that ultimately, we’re all going to have to face.”
