How Much Does It Cost to Prepare a Grave?

Every person will eventually face the end of their life, and when that time comes, the cost of preparing a grave must also be planned for, from buying empty land as a burial plot to the arrangements that follow.

For this reason, you need to research burial costs and all the expenses involved in arranging them. That way, your heirs won't be burdened later, and won't be taken advantage of by middlemen who profit from your family's grieving.

Types of Burial and Their Costs

Burials are divided into two types: public and private. Both have specific differences, as follows:

A. Public Burial

Public burial, or TPU, refers to a cemetery managed by the local regional government. Its facilities are usually basic and not luxurious.

Based on DKI Regional Regulation No. 1 of 2015 concerning Regional Levies, the cost to rent a grave in the Jakarta area ranges from IDR 50,000 to IDR 275,000. This cost of course does not cover all the needs involved in a burial, such as preparing the body, renting an ambulance, a coffin, and so on.

Even so, the cost of preparing a grave remains a rather sensitive subject, because some individuals have boldly set their own prices.

Some families report having to spend millions of rupiah for a single burial. For upkeep, they must pay again every month.

In fact, Governor of DKI Ahok once became angry on learning that some unscrupulous individuals were taking advantage of someone's grief for personal gain. In one case, a TPU head charged between IDR 3,000,000 and IDR 4,000,000.

Similar incidents have continued up to last year, 2018. Yet the facilities provided were only land rental, grave digging, chairs, and a tent. For grave maintenance, the family still had to pay IDR 150,000 per month, handed directly to the grave caretaker.

B. Private Burial

Private burial, on the other hand, is managed by an individual or a private company. These cemeteries are luxurious and exclusive, which is why the cost of a private grave is higher.

This is because the operators provide not only a burial plot but also a whole concept, so that the graves are arranged neatly and beautifully in rows.

For example, the San Diego Hills cemetery. This cemetery offers two types: Single Burial, priced at around IDR 137,000,000, and a 10-slot Kavling priced at IDR 950,000,000.

Meanwhile, the cost of a single-type grave at Al-Azhar Memorial Garden is priced at IDR 75,000,000, and the family type at IDR 199,000,000. These amounts reflect its luxurious facilities.

The family does not need to carry out routine maintenance, since the operator takes care of that work. The graves are always clean and tidy. If wild grass grows around a grave, staff will immediately clear and tidy it. So you don't have to struggle with it yourself.

Steps to Arrange a Grave Online

Nowadays everything is highly advanced. Even arranging the cost of a grave can be done online. With so many middlemen out there, you need to stay alert.

Here is the full explanation:

1. Prepare All the Documents You Need

The first thing you must complete before a burial is arranging a Grave Land Burial Permit (IPTM). To obtain an IPTM, you must prepare all the required documents. The following are the documents needed:

• Family Card (KK) and National ID Card (KTP) of the heirs or family, both originals and photocopies.
• Family Card (KK) and National ID Card (KTP) of the family of the deceased.
• A referral letter from the village/sub-district office (kelurahan).
• A death certificate from the village/sub-district office (kelurahan).
• A body examination letter issued by the Puskesmas (community health center) or the hospital.

2. Visit the TPU Office and the Kelurahan PTSP Office

Once all your documents are complete, the next step is to visit the TPU office to find a grave plot. Meet the staff directly, who will help show you the way. After that, the family or heirs will receive a referral letter to the Kelurahan PTSP.

Next, go to the Kelurahan PTSP to obtain the SKRD (Regional Levy Assessment Letter) matching the grave plot's block. You must register and verify your data using the TPU Online system at the Kelurahan PTSP.

3. Settle the Grave Levy at the Regional Bank

The next step is to pay the grave-making fee at your local regional bank. Once the payment is complete, you will receive a validation number.
You can submit this number back to the PTSP (One-Stop Service Office) to obtain an IPTM (burial permit). An IPTM is usually valid for 3 years, though this period can be extended.

4. Visit the Nearest TPU (Public Cemetery)

You have now completed all the steps. It is time to visit the public cemetery closest to your location. You do not need to arrange equipment for the funeral, such as tents, chairs, grave-digging services, or a sound system, as these are already provided in the cemetery grounds.

Tips for Arranging a Funeral

With information about arranging the grave-making fee online, you can access details easily and transparently. Here are some other tips for handling a funeral.

A. Simplifying Paperwork with a Funeral Manager

If you would rather not be burdened with administrative tasks, there are now funeral services available that include handling the death certificate You can hand all of these matters over to a third party, or a Funeral Manager, so that you can focus on the time of mourning.

B. Check the Official Information on Funeral Payment Rules

The rules on grave-making fees are published in official government information. This way, you can learn the payment rules from an official source. In addition, the government aims to keep these amounts low, so you will not be overly burdened by the cost.

Unscrupulous brokers often take advantage of families who are grieving. They have no time to look into funeral costs. So you should take the initiative yourself to avoid being caught out by such dishonest schemes.

Do You Know How Much a Grave Costs?

Reading about the varying costs of grave-making makes it wise to start thinking ahead now. Preparing in advance by enrolling in funeral insurance or a funeral service from Kamboja can be an effective solution. You will no longer need to worry about funds for a funeral that could happen at any time.