The Cost Of Smoking Around The World

The global tobacco market is currently valued at over $1 trillion and is expected to grow to $1.2 trillion by 2032. Despite this massive industry value, many countries are taking a firm stance against tobacco use. Governments around the world are introducing higher taxes, stricter regulations, and public health campaigns designed to reduce smoking rates and encourage healthier alternatives.

According to our new research, the Marshall Islands is the most expensive country in the world to buy a pack of cigarettes, costing a staggering £42 per pack.

The World’s Most Expensive Countries to Smoke

1. The Marshall Islands (£42 per pack)

The Marshall Islands are incredibly remote, 2,600 miles from Australia. Almost everything, from food to fuel to tobacco, has to be shipped or flown in, which naturally pushes up prices across the board. With a population of just 37,000 people, residents pay a hefty premium for everyday goods.

Due to its remote location, imports of everyday items become costly, including tobacco. High tobacco prices reflect the country’s efforts to curb smoking, which causes 13% of all deaths and costs nearly $8 million annually in health and economic impacts¹.

2. Australia (£23.96 per pack)

The second most expensive country to smoke in is Australia, where a single pack of cigarettes costs £23.96 ($48.80 AUD).

According to the National Tobacco Strategy 2023–2030, tobacco smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disability in Australia and is estimated to have killed 1,280,000 Australians between 1960 and 20202. Tobacco is now one of the most heavily taxed consumer products in the country, and the aim is clear: to make smoking less affordable and reduce the number of people who smoke.

3.Turkmenistan (£20.14 per pack)

Taking third place on the list is Turkmenistan, where a single pack of cigarettes costs £20.14. The steep price is mainly the result of strict tobacco taxation and strong government efforts to reduce smoking across the country.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has played a major role in this shift, recommending that countries apply at least a 75% tax rate on tobacco products to cut smoking rates and improve public health. Turkmenistan has followed this advice closely, leading to some of the highest cigarette prices in Central Asia.

Is the UK expensive for smokers?

With 6.4 million smokers in the UK, there’s undoubtedly huge sums of money being spent on fuelling this addiction. The UK is the sixth most expensive country for smokers, with a pack of 20 cigarettes costing £15 on average being spent every. 8% of a Brits annual salary is spent on cigarettes alone.

Europe’s stance on cigarette pricing

Most countries within Europe have banned smoking indoors in public places such as restaurants, bars, and workplaces[6]. This shift was designed to create healthier environments and reduce the risks faced by non-smokers exposed to tobacco smoke.

Tobacco taxes across Europe are some of the highest in the world, and this is reflected in the price of a pack of cigarettes:

1. United Kingdom (£15 per pack)

2. Ireland (£14.84 (€17.07) per pack)

3. Norway (£11.97 (161.71 NOK) per pack)
   
   

These high prices are largely the result of deliberate government policy. Many European nations view taxation as a key weapon in the fight against smoking, using price increases to discourage consumption while also generating funds for healthcare and anti-smoking initiatives.

Despite these efforts, Europe still has a relatively high proportion of smokers compared to other regions. In fact, over a quarter ( 26%) of the overall population and 29% of young Europeans aged 15-24 smoke[4].

North America’s most expensive countries for cigarettes

The Bahamas is the most expensive country in North America to buy cigarettes, costing £11.16 ($14.89). This is due to the high taxation of tobacco products, much like other countries around the world, to try and stop the increase in people smoking. Canada follows as the second most expensive country for cigarettes, costing £10.69 ($20.02 CAD), and the U.S. completes the top three with a pack costing £7.44 ($9.93).

Vaping vs. Smoking: What’s Cheaper?

Vaping is a proven deterrent from smoking, but we set out to find out if it is also the cheaper alternative.

How much more expensive is smoking than vaping?

We found that UK smokers spend £2,366 a year on cigarettes, over three times as much as those who use a vaping kit.

Those who opt for vaping kits are able to save £1,699 compared to those who continue to use cigarettes.

With 31% of vape users using disposable vapes, and the number of users are on the rise, they can expect to save £1,326 on using disposable vapes rather than cigarettes.

Vape kits have been found to be 36% cheaper than disposables, saving you £373 during the course of a year.

Summary

Our research shows that vaping is the proven cheaper, and less harmful alternative, to smoking. If you’re thinking of making the switch, check out our blog on which vapes are the best options for those wanting to quit smoking.

Methodology

Numbeo was used to identify the cost of a packet of 20 Marlboro cigarettes in each country, in which the countries were ranked according to its descending cost. The yearly cost is under the assumption that ½ of a packet of cigarettes lasts one day - http://healthsurvey.hscic.gov.uk/data-visualisation/data-visualisation/explore-the-trends/smoking.aspx 

Numbeo was used to compare each country’s monthly cost of cigarettes with the country’s average monthly salary.

Internal data from Vape Superstore was used to identify the average cost of using a starter vape kit and using disposable vapes in the UK.

Sources

1. https://tobaccoatlas.org/factsheets/marshall-islands/ 

2. https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-05/national-tobacco-strategy-2023-2030.pdf 

3. https://health.ec.europa.eu/tobacco/overview_en 

4. https://www.aihw.gov.au/news-media/media-releases/2024/february/smoking-rates-continue-to-decline 

5. https://health.ec.europa.eu/tobacco/smoke-free-environments_en#protecting-eu-citizens-from-second-hand-tobacco-smoke 

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