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Below is a comprehensive comparison of burial fees for Muslims in Islamic cemeteries versus traditional municipal cemeteries in Germany, based on data for the year 2025:
Cost comparison in 2025
| Type of burial / grave | Islamic cemetery (approx.) | Municipal cemetery (average for 20 years) |
|---|---|---|
| Reihengrab (standard single grave) | €940 (20 years) in Stuttgart (stuttgart.de) | €939–1,300 in the municipal cemetery |
| Wahlgrab (choice grave) | €2,040 (20 years) in Stuttgart | €1,016–1,600, and in some cases €4,000+ |
| Grave for shroud only (no coffin) | Often charged as a Reihengrab at the same price | Subject to special approval; additional fees (e.g. €261 in Hanover) |
| Urnen Reihengrab (standard urn grave) | €700 (20 years) in Stuttgart | €798–870 depending on the city |
| Urnen Wahlgrab (choice urn grave) | €1,800 (20 years) in Stuttgart | €828–1,240 (e.g. a grave in Gelsenkirchen) |
Additional notes
• Municipal cemeteries:
Friedhofsgebühren (cemetery fees) account for roughly one third of total funeral costs (about €2,000–2,700) (clark.de).
The exact amount varies by federal state and municipality and can range from about €939 (Reihengrab) up to €5,200 (Wahlgrab) (bestatter.de).
• Islamic cemeteries:
In many cases, prices are similar to those of municipal cemeteries or slightly lower if the grave is located in a designated Islamic section, as in Hanover or Stuttgart (Reihengrab €940, Wahlgrab €2,040).
For example, in Gelsenkirchen: SargReihengrab €1,620 and SargWahlgrab €2,380 (memovida.de).
Conclusion
If you are looking for an economical, religiously valid (Islamic) burial, a Reihengrab in an Islamic cemetery will usually offer you services at a cost level comparable to that of municipal cemeteries, while also providing easier access to religious services and rituals.
An Islamic Wahlgrab is sometimes more expensive, but it gives you the option of choosing the grave location and creating a family grave.
A shroud-only burial (Tuchbestattung) is possible depending on the federal state and is subject to special additional fees; in Hanover, for example, there is an extra fee of €261 (hannover.de).
Thus, in 2025, the Gravplatz costs for Muslims are very close to those in municipal cemeteries. However, it is always advisable to check:
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the subtle differences between individual municipalities and federal states
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whether the grave is in an Islamic section that facilitates religious rites (direction of Qibla, shroud burial)
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whether you can obtain a written cost estimate (Kostenvoranschlag) from the cemetery with a full breakdown of all fees
The editorial and author team of this website strives to provide accurate information based on extensive research and consultation of multiple sources. Nevertheless, errors may occur or some details may be incomplete or not definitively confirmed. For this reason, the information contained in the articles should be regarded as an initial point of reference only; for binding and officially confirmed information, please always contact the competent authorities.
