The average cost of a funeral can vary from $4,000 to $9,000 depending on what geographic area of the United States you live in and the type of funeral. For many families, especially if the passing of a loved one was unexpected, the unplanned cost of a funeral can be a huge financial burden. While there are many ways to finance a funeral or end-of-life plans, including life insurance, funeral insurance, the estate, donations, government benefits, one method families may want to consider is a funeral loan.