Questions, answered plainly.

Hlola is a free South African funeral cost and cover gap calculator. You build the funeral you want, see the cost in Rand, and compare it with your existing cover. Hlola is a comparison service, not an insurer.

Roughly R15,000–R25,000 for a simple funeral and R40,000–R80,000 for a typical family funeral with a casket, tent, catering and private burial.

If your total funeral cover and quickly accessible savings are less than the cost of the funeral you want, you are underinsured. The Hlola calculator shows the exact gap.

Yes. The calculator is free and needs no sign-up. If you choose to, you can ask for quotes from insurer partners to close your gap.

Only if you ask for quotes. Insurers need your age to price cover, and an ID number lets them confirm it. Your details are handled under POPIA and only shared with your consent.

South African residents aged 18 and over. People over 65 can still get quotes; we ask a few extra questions because cover options differ by age.

They are indicative 2026 averages checked against published South African sources. Real quotes vary by region and provider.

A pine coffin, municipal grave or cremation, service at home or a church hall and light refreshments. That usually comes to R15,000–R20,000 including mortuary costs.

Usually cheaper than a private cemetery plot (about R6,500 vs R9,000) but not always cheaper than a municipal grave (about R2,500). Cremation also removes the need for a tombstone.

Enough to match the full cost of the funeral you want, minus savings your family can access immediately. For most South African families that means R30,000–R80,000 of cover for the main member.

Yes. Many people combine a work policy, a burial society and a private policy. Add them all up when checking your gap.

No. Many families unveil a tombstone months or a year later, but it is worth budgeting for because it is often not covered by a funeral policy.

Some policies do, often with distance or border limits. Many basic policies do not. Check the wording or compare policies that include it.

It varies widely. Urban services may have 100 guests; rural and traditional funerals regularly see 300 or more. Plan for your family's realistic number.