Lyon is set to implement a “social pricing system” for its cemeteries, allowing burial plots to be offered at reduced rates based on family income. The initiative, aimed at promoting social justice in funeral policies, will provide three pricing tiers, with plots costing between 360 and 750 euros. This change, expected to be voted on December 12 and effective March 2025, seeks to ensure equal access to burial services and reflects growing concerns over the financial burden of funerals.
Lyon Introduces Social Pricing for Burial Plots
The city of Lyon is set to launch an innovative “social pricing system” for burial plots that will be determined by family income. This initiative aims to assist lower-income families in accessing affordable burial options.
Laurent Bosetti, the ecologist deputy mayor responsible for funeral policies, emphasized the importance of social justice in this initiative. He stated, “We want to ensure that death does not exacerbate social inequalities.” The current funeral sector has largely been overlooked in public policy, a gap that the city has sought to address over the past year.
The new pricing structure is slated for a city council vote on December 12, with plans for implementation in March 2025. This system mirrors existing social assistance programs for services like childcare, education, and cultural facilities.
The pricing tiers proposed by the city include: approximately 360 euros for the most modest families for a 15-year burial plot, 550 euros for those with intermediate incomes, and 750 euros for wealthier households. In contrast, the uniform cost for all families today is 525 euros.
Common Grave Insights
This initiative will apply to funeral concessions in Lyon’s four municipal cemeteries: La Guillotière, La Croix-Rousse, Saint-Rambert, and Loyasse. The announcement of the social pricing model has sparked discussions among cemetery visitors, particularly around the upcoming All Saints’ Day.
Noëlle Vandamme, who traveled from Alsace to tend to a family grave, supports the new policy, commenting, “Funerals can be very expensive for those with limited means.” She recounted how her husband’s grandfather was unceremoniously laid to rest in a common grave until his mother-in-law arranged for a proper burial.
Teacher Catherine Anton shared similar sentiments, remarking that providing cost-effective burial options is essential for allowing everyone to lay their loved ones to rest with dignity. Both women expressed hope that such measures would become more widespread.
Throughout France, discrepancies in burial plot prices exist between rural areas, medium-sized towns, and larger cities. In densely populated regions, limited cemetery space often drives up costs for certain burial permits.
Price Freeze Initiatives
In Lyon, the cost for a 30-year burial plot currently stands at 1,315 euros for a basic surface area (2 m²), which is significantly higher than the national average price in 2022, as reported by the Pompes Funèbres Générales (PFG). For context, prices were around 380 euros in Strasbourg, 440 euros in Lille, rising to approximately 1,370 euros in Marseille, and up to 2,900 euros in Paris. Notably, a plot at the renowned Père-Lachaise cemetery exceeds 15,000 euros.
Additionally, Lyon’s local government aims to “freeze” public funeral home rates in 2025, reacting to rising costs observed since the market was liberalized in 1993. On average, funeral expenses total around 3,350 euros for burial and 3,609 euros for cremation, with costs potentially reaching 6,500 euros, according to the Ministry of the Economy.
In addition to affordability, the municipality is also advocating for environmentally sustainable funeral practices, with plans to establish “natural squares” in municipal cemeteries, eschewing concrete vaults and chemicals.