Foundation Cigar Co · Candela · medium strength · 2026

How much does a Foundation cigar cost?

Foundation cigars run $6.00–$15.62 per single depending on the line, with boxes of 20 at $223.72. Made in Nicaragua by Foundation Cigar Co, the brand spans 5 lines with a Candela wrapper.

Average single

$12.50

per cigar

Box of 20

$223.72

$11.19 per cigar · save $26.28

Cheapest line

$6.00

Charter Oak

Line by line

Every Foundation line and what each costs.

5 lines, with 2026 national average single and box pricing.

Line	Single	Box (20)	Per cigar	Notes
Charter Oak	$6.00	$105.60	$5.28	A working-man's smoke that punches far above its price.
The Tabernacle	$12.50	$220.00	$11.00	A Connecticut Broadleaf masterpiece with cult status.
El Güegüense	$12.00	$211.20	$10.56	A celebrated corojo-wrapped Nicaraguan blend.
Olmec	$15.62	$177.55	$8.88	Claro and Maduro versions themed on the Olmec civilization.
The Wise Man	$13.16	$223.72	$11.19	Corojo and Maduro lines of the history-themed blend.

Cost breakdown

What a Foundation habit costs over time.

Per single, per box, per year, and lifetime at Foundation prices.

Per single

$12.50

$medium strength, Candela

Per box of 20

$223.72

$11.19/cigar

Yearly (1/day)

$4,563

$12.50/cigar × 365

30-year total

$136,875

Before compounding

Monthly (30 cigars)

$375

2/day yearly

$9,125

2/week yearly

$1,300

About the brand

About Foundation cigars.

Manufactured by Foundation Cigar Co, made in Nicaragua.

Foundation is Nicholas Melillo's Connecticut-based boutique house and one of the hottest brands in the industry, praised for its history-themed blends. The portfolio includes the Olmec Claro/Maduro (inspired by the ancient Olmec civilization), the Wise Man Corojo/Maduro line, the Aksum line, and the 10-Year Aniversario Salomon, all Nicaraguan-made in medium-full strength.

Wrapper

Candela

Strength

Medium

Where it’s made

Nicaragua

Flavor notes

Earth, Cocoa, Pepper, Leather

Head to head

How does Foundation compare to other brands?

Foundation side-by-side with the 3 closest brands by single price.

Brand	Single	Box	Per cigar	Strength	Origin
FoundationTHIS BRAND	$12.50	$223.72	$11.19	Medium	Nicaragua
Cohiba	$12.65	$197.71	$9.89	Medium	Nicaragua
Trinidad	$12.25	$245.00	$12.25	Medium	Nicaragua
Gurkha	$12.00	$240.00	$12.00	Medium	Dominican Republic

See all 40 cigar brands compared →

Your questions, answered

Foundation cigar FAQ.

The most common questions about Foundation pricing and value.

Frequently asked questions about Foundation cigars

Foundation cigars cost $6.00 to $15.62 per single depending on the line, with the flagship $Charter Oak running $6.00 and the top $Olmec running $15.62. The brand average sits around $12.50 a stick, and a box of 20 runs $223.72. Prices vary by state and retailer because of differences in state cigar excise taxes. Foundation is a medium-strength brand made by Foundation Cigar Co.

A box of 20 Foundation cigars costs $223.72 on average, or $11.19 per cigar. Buying the box saves about $26.28 versus buying 20 singles at the average single price — a per-cigar discount of roughly $1.31. The cheapest line to buy by the box is Charter Oak at $105.60; the priciest is Olmec at $177.55. Boxes need a properly humidified humidor to stay fresh.

The cheapest Foundation line is Charter Oak at $6.00 per single and $105.60 per box of 20. a working-man's smoke that punches far above its price. It is the natural entry point for trying the brand, though the higher lines are where Foundation's reputation is built.

Foundation is Foundation Cigar Co, and its reputation is built on 5 distinct lines spanning medium strength in a Candela wrapper. The brand's character runs from the Charter Oak ($6.00) to the Olmec ($15.62), with flavor notes of earth, cocoa, pepper, leather. Whether it's "any good" depends on taste — mild, wrapper-forward profiles suit newer smokers, while the fuller lines reward experienced palates.

At 1 cigar per day, a Foundation habit at the average $12.50 per stick runs about $4,563 per year — $375 a month, or $136,875 over 30 years before compounding. At 2 per day that doubles to roughly $9,125 a year. If you smoke a few a week instead of daily, the annual number drops by more than half. Use our free quit-smoking calculator to see the full compound cost of your personal habit.

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About this data

Prices are 2026 national averages sourced from atlantic cigar (atlanticcigar.com) product listings 2026; convenience store, smoke shop, and online retailer pricing. Actual in-store prices vary by state, retailer, and local cigar excise taxes. Manufacturer: Foundation Cigar Co. Source URL: https://foundationcigar.com/. Last reviewed: 2026-08-01. All prices are estimates for informational purposes only. SmokeCalc is an educational tool, not a commercial price tracker. All trademarks belong to their respective owners; SmokeCalc is not affiliated with or endorsed by any cigar manufacturer.

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