Oxford named as one of the UK's 'most expensive places to die'

The city has been named in the top 30 of the most costly places for a funeral in the UK, according to research by funeral comparison website Beyond.

The average funeral cost in Oxford is £4,570, more than £300 more expensive than the average UK funeral at £4,241.

The most expensive place for funerals in the UK was found to be Watford with an average funeral cost of £5,814.

London was second place at £5,749, with Redhill in third at £5,352.

The website claims the spike is being fuelled by price hikes among the big chains, who they claim have raised their fees by more than £500 in two years.

Meanwhile, independent funeral directors, who represent roughly a third of the market, have actually been found to have dropped their fees over the past 12 months.

Co-founder of Beyond, James Dunn, said: “A lack of transparency in the funeral market is what’s fuelling price rises, particularly among the big chains.

“Death means big business, with half a million Brits dying every year, but a disinclination to shop around is resulting in mourners, who are often vulnerable, paying over the odds.”

In February Oxford was labelled the 'least affordable city' to live in after a study revealed the average property price is 11.5 times the average wage.

Co-Op Funeralcare, which operates across the UK, disputes the findings.

A spokesperson said:  “We do not recognise the data within this study.  Over recent years, we have taken a number of steps to lead the way in tackling funeral affordability.  

"We conduct almost 100,000 funerals every year, and our average funeral cost including third party fees is significantly lower than the figures quoted.

"Furthermore, following a price reduction in our most affordable funeral option over two years ago, we have since held our prices at the same level.  

"We have also introduced a new lower priced choice funeral option this year, which is priced at £1,395, including third party costs.”