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Dying might not seem like it would be a big expense, but in these 17 US states, it will cost the typical person around $20,000, according to GOBankingRates' data.
The most expensive states to die tend to overlap with the most expensive states to live. This is generally thanks to the higher costs of healthcare, which is a factor in the cost of end-of-life care.
States where the costs surrounding death top $20,000 include Hawaii, California, and New York. The three most expensive states all have either inheritance tax or estate taxes, on top of high healthcare costs.
Death isn't cheap in these 17 states, where costs of healthcare and funeral expenses will add up to over $20,000.
According to data by GOBankingRates, states that have a traditionally high cost of living are also the states where it's most expensive to die.
According to the data, Hawaii, California, and New York have the most costs surrounding end of life. However, Hawaii's costs are much higher than the rest, with the average funeral in the Island State costing $14,975 compared to the $7,360 average funeral cost in the US.
GOBankingRates created this ranking by looking at the average costs of end-of-life healthcare and the costs of a funeral across the US, and then factored in each state's cost of living index.
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Here are the 17 states where dying will cost the most.
Montana has the 17th highest cost of dying, with high medical and funeral costs.
Average funeral expenses: $8,299
Total end-of-life expenses: $22,980
16. Delaware
Slightly more expensive than Montana, death in this small state will cost about $23,238 in final expenses.
Average funeral expenses: $8,392
Total end-of-life expenses: $23,238
15. Nevada
This western state doesn't make death affordable, but there's no inheritance tax or estate tax.
Average funeral expenses: $8,423
Total end-of-life expenses: $23,324
14. New Hampshire
As one of the states with a high cost of living, New Hampshire also has high costs for funerals. However, there's no estate or inheritance tax.
Average funeral expense: $8,516
Total end-of-life expenses: $23,582
13. Washington
Washington has high costs of living, which contribute to higher funeral and healthcare expenses.
Average funeral expense: $8,594
Total expenses: $23,979
12. Vermont
Vermont has fairly high costs of medical expenses, along with high costs of living.
Average funeral expenses: $8,889
Total end-of-life expenses: $24,614
11. Maine
High average funeral costs make Maine the first state on this list to break the $25,000 mark in final expenses.
Average funeral expenses: $9,122
Total end-of-life expenses: $25,259
10. Rhode Island
In Rhode Island, like most of New England, everything costs a bit more. And funerals are no exception.
Average funeral expenses: $9,269
Total end-of-life expenses: $25,667
9. New Jersey
New Jersey's steep inheritance tax can be as high as 16%.
Average funeral expenses: $9,712
Total end-of-life expenses: $26,892
8. Connecticut
Connecticut's high costs make for expensive healthcare and funerals.
Average funeral expenses: $9,914
Total end-of-life expenses: $27,451
7. Maryland
Maryland's average funeral cost is over $10,000, and the state will also tax inheritances up to 10%.
Average funeral expenses: $10,069
Total end-of-life expenses: $27,881
6. Alaska
Alaska's already high costs of living make for higher funeral and healthcare costs.
Average funeral expenses: $10,084
Total end-of-life expenses: $27,924
5. Massachusetts
Massachusetts funeral costs are well above the national average.
Average funeral expenses: $10,216
Total end-of-life expenses: $28,290
4. Oregon
Oregon's high healthcare and funeral costs make dying there very expensive. And for those who have large estates of over $1 million, plan to face taxes between 10% and 16%.
Average funeral expenses: $10,418
Total end-of-life expenses: $28,849
3. New York City
New York is the third most expensive state for death, and funeral expenses are high.
Average funeral expenses: $10,799
Total end-of-life expenses: $29,902
2. California
California's funeral costs exceed $10,000, while final medical expenses average $20,000.
Average funeral expenses: $11,777
Total end-of-life expenses: $20,834
1. Hawaii
Hawaii is the most expensive state for funeral costs, with the total coming to over $40,000. High medical costs greatly contribute to that expense.
