A pack of 20 cigarettes in Australia costs on average A$52.00 in AUD. About 12.4% of adults in Australia currently smoke (2022 (WHO any-tobacco age-standardized for adults; ABS 2022 current e-cig use 4.0% adults for youth vaping — note this differs from any-time-use figures around 15-17%) data, Australian Government Dept. of Health). A pack-a-day smoker spends roughly A$18980 per year at the register — and that is before you add the time, the health, or the compounding.
How the A$52.00 is built: tax and price structure
~75-80% of retail price is tax (Australia meets WHO highest tax-share threshold)
| Excise per stick | A$1.49832 per stick (effective 1 Sept 2025) / A$1.52829 per stick (effective 3 Mar 2026; ATO AWOTE-indexed) |
| Roll-your-own tobacco | A$2,397.31/kg RYO tobacco (Sept 2025) / A$2,445.26/kg (Mar 2026; AWOTE-indexed) |
Source: Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Excise Tariff — Tobacco. https://www.ato.gov.au/businesses-and-organisations/gst-excise-and-indirect-taxes/tobacco-and-excise/excise-duty-rates-for-tobacco
What cigarettes cost in Australia: brand price ranges
The A$52.00 national average hides a wide spread — discount brands are noticeably cheaper than premium.
| Brand | Typical price per pack of 20 |
|---|---|
| Winfield | A$50-60 per pack of 25 |
| Philip Morris (formerly Marlboro) | A$50-58 per pack |
| Benson & Hedges | A$50-56 per pack of 25 |
| Peter Jackson / Vogue | A$46-52 per pack of 25 |
| Holiday (budget) | A$45-52 per pack of 25 |
Free help quitting in Australia
Australia has free, evidence-based programs. You do not need to quit alone.
Quitline 13 7848 (13 QUIT) — free, confidential, 7am-11pm 7 days
Free, confidential, staffed by trained counsellors.
PBS-subsidised: NRT patches/gum/lozenges (over-the-counter or via script); varenicline (Champix) and bupropion (Zyban) on PBS with prescription.
What makes Australia different
- 01Australia was the FIRST country in the world to introduce plain packaging for tobacco (1 December 2012).
- 02Has among the highest cigarette prices globally — Numbeo lists A$52 average for a Marlboro 20-pack.
- 03Tobacco use prevalence fell from 22.4% (2001) to 10.6% (2022) — roughly halved over two decades (ABS Smoking and Vaping 2022).
- 04Vape laws tightened in 2024 (pharmacy/prescription-only) and 2025 effectively banned retail vape sales.
- 05Tobacco excise increases 5% per year under indexation until 1 September 2026 (legislated).
In Australia, a pack of 20 cigarettes costs on average A$52.00 AUD as of 2026. About 12.4% of Australia adults smoke, down from historical highs. Tax accounts for ~75-80% of retail price is tax (australia meets who highest tax-share threshold) of the pack price. Quitting saves the average smoker A$18980 per year.