A pack of 20 cigarettes in Australia costs on average A$35.00 in AUD. About 12.4% of adults in Australia currently smoke (2022 data, Australian Government Dept. of Health). A pack-a-day smoker spends roughly A$12775 per year at the register — and that is before you add the time, the health, or the compounding.
How the A$35.00 is built: tax and price structure
~75-80% of retail price is tax (Australia meets WHO highest tax-share threshold)
| Excise per stick | A$1.30+ per cigarette (excise + equivalent duty), escalating 5% per year until Sept 2026 |
| Roll-your-own tobacco | A$1.50+ per gram of RYO tobacco (weight-based excise, also escalating 5%/yr) |
Source: Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Excise Tariff — Tobacco.
What cigarettes cost in Australia: brand price ranges
The A$35.00 national average hides a wide spread — discount brands are noticeably cheaper than premium.
| Brand | Typical price per pack of 20 |
|---|---|
| Winfield | A$48-55 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$42-48 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$50 average for a Marlboro 20-pack.
- 03Tobacco use prevalence fell from 24.9% (2000) to 12.4% (2022) — roughly halved in two decades.
- 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$35.00 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$12775 per year.