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Burial Insurance, Best Options, & Average Funeral Costs in South Carolina

Updated on Sept 15, 2025 • 7 min read

What providers offer burial insurance in South Carolina? How do their rates compare to the rest of the US, and which companies provide the best coverage in the Palmetto State? We’ll give you an overview of state-specific rules, price estimates, and our burial insurance recommendations.

 

Final Expense Benefits works with over 20 of the best burial insurance providers and can help connect you to a quality policy under any condition and at any budget.

Get familiar with the options available in your state and call us at (866) 786-0725, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, and get your burning questions about burial insurance in South Carolina answered.

Key takeaways

The average cost of a funeral in South Carolina is $8,270, a price that could be covered by a policy from a top-rated burial insurance provider.

Burial insurance rates for the best providers, like Mutual of Omaha, American Amicable, and Transamerica, match the national average.

Meanwhile, providers such as Aetna Accendo and Americo offer coverage at noticeably lower rates compared to the rest of the country.

There are no state-specific laws that would affect your ability to apply for or use final expense insurance in South Carolina.

Average Cost of a Funeral in South Carolina

The average prices for traditional burials, affordable burials, and full service cremations in South Carolina are about 4% less than the national average. Additionally, the average direct cremation in the state is about 13% cheaper compared to the rest of the country. 

 

According to Funeralocity, average funeral costs in South Carolina will vary by the type of memorial you or your loved one wants:

People saying goodbye to a coffin in a church during a funeral.
  • Traditional funeral with burial service: $8,270 + $2,426 average burial plot cost
  • Direct burial (burial with no funeral service): $3,060
  • Cremation with traditional funeral service: $6,017
  • Direct cremation (cremation with no funeral service): $1,911

Prices for basic services may vary depending on location, desired funeral amenities, and more. Check out Final Expense Benefits’ funeral cost calculator for more information.

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Top Funeral Homes in South Carolina

Here are some of the most popular funeral homes in South Carolina:

Funeral Home Location Phone Number Customer Rating
North Charleston, SC
5.0 / 5
Myrtle Beach, SC
4.8 / 5
Greenville, SC
4.6 / 5
Columbia, SC
4.5 / 5
Rock Hill, SC
4.4 / 5

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South Carolina Funeral Cost Breakdown

General costs for funerals in South Carolina depend on several factors and vary based on the type of memorial service you want. Traditional funerals, on average, are the most expensive due to caskets and burial plots. Costs will also vary and affect your funeral cost, some of which include the following:

 

  • Basic Services: includes licensing, funeral director fees, and more.
  • Transportation: includes transportation costs from the morgue and for driving caskets in a hearse to the cemetery.
  • Service Preparation: includes embalming, an expensive body preparation procedure, necessary for traditional funerals.
  • Service: includes costs for memorial officiants, flower arrangements, decoration, and funeral home rental fees. Costs here can increase if you choose to host a large gathering or opt for funeral catering.
  • Casket: will vary widely in price; the median cost for an average wooden casket is about $3,500.
  • Burial Plot: burial plot costs will vary by location.


Also known as final expense insurance, burial insurance is a type of whole life insurance used to cover funeral, cremation, and many other final expenses. Typical burial insurance policies don’t require medical exams, accept most applicants regardless of health, and average benefits payouts range from $5,000 to $50,000. Insurers in South Carolina do offer burial insurance and do not have any state-specific rules/laws affecting the accessibility to this kind of coverage.

Green Burial in South Carolina

Green burials, also known as natural or eco-burials, are a type of burial method that allows the deceased to decompose naturally. The body is prepared in a way that causes minimal environmental impact and aids in the conservation of natural resources.

 

They typically require fewer resources and steps compared to a traditional burial and can be a great, cost-accessible option. Green burials are legal across all 50 US states

 

Person with orange sleeves planting a tree

Funeral and burial regulations vary across individual states, with California, Georgia, Maryland, and Washington being the only regulated states. However, despite legal and state regulations, not all cemeteries allow for green burial.

 

Here are some cemeteries in the state of South Carolina that permit green burials:

Funeral Home Location Phone Number Customer Rating
Eastover, SC
5.0 / 5
Blacksburg, SC
5.0 / 5
Swansea, SC
4.9 / 5
Westminster, SC
4.9 / 5

Burial Laws in South Carolina

The free look period is the required time during which a new life insurance policy owner can terminate the policy without any penalties, such as surrender charges, and even receive a refund if a payment was already made during that time. A free look period typically lasts at least 10 days but can be longer depending on insurers’ policies and state laws. This law exists in all states. In South Carolina, the free look period must be a minimum of 10 days for new policies and at least 30 days for policies purchased through mail.


Aside from being wary of the free look period for funeral planning, it’s important to keep note of the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule. The law in question requires funeral homes to provide you with written prices for their products and services upfront. Additionally, the rule allows you to select only what products and services you want from them and grants you the right to reject any prepackaged options presented to you.

How Does South Carolina Burial Insurance Compare to National Rates?

Burial insurance in the U.S. varies by state, and in South Carolina, final expense coverage is generally available for all ages and cost-accessible compared to the rest of the country.

 

Final Expense Benefits prides itself on keeping rates transparent and accessible for anyone interested in purchasing coverage. Here are some sample rates of the best burial insurance providers nationwide for seniors in South Carolina aged 50 to 80.

Age Monthly Rate
(Male)
Monthly Rate
(Female)
50
$31
$24
55
$36
$28
60
$43
$33
65
$54
$41
70
$70
$53
75
$97
$71
80
$136
$101

These figures are estimates only, based on a $10,000 burial insurance policy from Transamerica for non-smoking applicants with no pre-existing conditions in the state of South Carolina.

Processes for funerals, burials, and cremations are similar throughout the US. However, in the state of South Carolina, a few matters are managed at the state level such as burial requirements, certain services, death notifications, and more. If you want to learn more about how final expense insurance ties into it all, talk to our team of experts at Final Expense Benefits and call (866) 786-0725.

Why Choose Final Expense Benefits?

Since 2019, Final Expense Benefits has been dedicated to helping seniors protect themselves and their loved ones with trusted final expense solutions catering to their needs. Ensuring your peace of mind is our top priority—if you’re interested in learning more about burial insurance, check out our online quoting tool or call us at (866) 786-0725, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

Best Burial Insurance Companies in South Carolina

Final Expense Benefits can get you connected with our top-rated life insurance partners to help you find a great burial insurance policy in South Carolina.

Check out these companies if you’re looking for quality coverage in the Palmetto State:

  • Mutual of Omaha
    Mutual of Omaha has been one of the biggest names in the life insurance industry thanks to their great rates nationwide and exemplary customer service.
  • Aetna Accendo
    Aetna Accendo offers simple final expense insurance coverage, strong and stable financial backing, and boasts a history of reliable service.
  • American Amicable
    With over 100 years of service, American Amicable has proven itself as not just a strong choice for seniors but also one of the most smoker-friendly life insurance providers.
  • Americo
    Americo Financial Life is an industry leader in the burial insurance market and can provide a reliable product for seniors. Regardless of pre-existing conditions or if you’re a smoker, Americo can offer cheap rates for great benefits.
  • Transamerica
    Transamerica is a large burial insurance provider and a Final Expense Benefits partner. Their policies are reliable burial insurance options for seniors.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to any major state-specific rules affecting the cost of a burial or how you use burial insurance, you have nothing to worry about in the state of South Carolina.

 

Burials in South Carolina are almost on par with the national average, while cremations can be either noticeably higher or lower depending on the amount of service you’re looking for yourself or your loved ones.

 

Landscape photo of an American cemetery

There are several top-rated final expense insurance providers offering reasonable rates—completely applicable for natural burials as well—compared to the countrywide costs.

 

Final Expense Benefits is here to help seniors in South Carolina find quality coverage. We work with over 20 of the best burial insurance providers to help you and your loved ones get covered at any budget. Call us at (866) 786-0725 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Check our free online quoting tool and funeral cost calculator for personalized rates and coverage estimates.

FAQ

What does the average funeral cost in South Carolina?

The average price for traditional burial ($8,592) and direct burial ($5,137) in South Carolina is lower than the national average, which is $8,270 and $3,060, respectively.

What does the average cremation cost in South Carolina?

The average cost for a cremation in South Carolina is slightly lower than the national average ($6,250) at $6,017. As for direct cremations in the state, those are notably cheaper compared to the rest of the U.S. ($2,202) at $1,911.

What’s the best burial insurance provider in South Carolina?

Final Expense Benefits recommends companies such as Mutual of Omaha, Aetna Accendo, American Amicable, Transamerica, and Americo as top burial insurance coverage in South Carolina. For personalized estimates, check our free online quoting tool.

Is green burial allowed in South Carolina?

Yes—green burial, also known as natural burial or conservation burial, is legal in the state of South Carolina and can be covered in burial insurance. However, despite legal and state regulations, not all cemeteries allow for green burial.

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