Funeral Costs For Temple Services

[Guest StephenB]

Does ฿500 per chant for 7 Buhdda's and ฿240 for 3 small Buhdda's X 3 daily chants for 3.5 days plus a Special gift on last day (฿2,000*3; ฿1,500*4; ฿240*3) all in envolopes seem right?

TOTAL approx ฿54,450

Seems very high to me, I spoke up about this, and of course I don't understand becuase I am furong. The 55k is just total for money in the envelope after the chanting.

Who sets the price? (Nobody seems to know.....)

This small funeral costed all together around ฿150,000.

55k temple related, 95k for food, cooking, music, fire, pictures, 2 small pigs ???

Funeral (Isaan, Thia-Khmer)

Amazing I was thinking around 40-50k would have been nice.

[CharlieH]

Depends who's there etc, you need also bare in mind that everyone who attends will give an evelope with money to the bereaving family which usually cancels out any cost and then some back to the family too.

What you have described seems very high to me.

[rgs2001uk]

Its about par for the course.

Providing you arent being hit up for the cost why worry.

Not mentioned by above poster, there is usually a village fund/insurance scheme in place, has that been explained to you?

As for costs, just to break even, thats 100 people a day giving 500 baht a time for 3 days.

Up that way most unlikely, grin and bare it.

I have known funerals to be done for as little as 20-50,000 baht, thats Thai style with no farang payments.

[Guest StephenB]

Thank you, I have been though a few village funerals, and 2 in the family now. Just wanted to know that it is the norm to be packing 55k in envelopes for 3 days in a small minimal type setting. I do know of the village fund but forgot to ask the wife about it.

Just double checking.

By the way the first funeral was a doozy. Seem liked it lasted 8 days, and was a real party with 10+ pigs, unlimited alchhol with several 24 casnios operating (hi-lo). Was trying not to repeat that first one! lol

[breadbin]

150,000 no way, not up there.

Wife's sister died of cancer last year in Udon village, 3 day funeral with food etc. cost 50,000 max.

Loads of people there all day and night drinking and eating.

Someone's pocketing something mate.

[cardholder]

Wife's mother died in December - total cost close on 300,000 Baht.

[David48]

You might also get some good information from this ... isaan-village-funeral

[Satcommlee]

It's a face thing... we all know how the Thai's have to show power!

Was at one 2 weeks ago, cost was estimated to be about the same.. 150K apparently

It was a pretty big one though with 150-200 or so in attendance, even had security and traffic marshal's..

I don't think I'll ever understand what actually happened over those 3 days, though.

edit: just to add, it was the mother-in-law who died and I must say I was expecting to be asked to cover the costs, but in all fairness they managed it all themselves total cost to me was around 10K, 5K contribution and the rest on hotel etc..