Cigarette price increase: new rates from January 1, 2026

A cigarette price increase to over 13 euros

The increase in cigarette prices is part of a public health policy pursued by the government for over a decade. This strategy aims to make access to tobacco increasingly costly in order to discourage consumers, notably through tax increases. The hike in effect since January 1, 2026 concerns:

• Cigarettes;
• Cigars;
• Heated tobacco;
• Roll-your-own tobacco. 

The new prices vary depending on manufacturers and products. The increase in cigarette prices is between 10 and 50 cents for a standard pack of 20 cigarettes. Furthermore, further price increases are expected in the coming years...

Here are the new prices applicable to the best-selling packs of 20 cigarettes, taken from the retail price list for manufactured tobacco products published by the Directorate General of Customs and Indirect Taxes, which oversees tobacco trade regulations in France:

• Lucky Strike: 12.50 euros (12.50 euros in 2025)
• Dunhill: 13.50 euros (13.20 euros in 2025)
• Camel: 13 euros (12.50 euros in 2025)
• Winston: 13 euros (12.50 euros in 2025)
• Marlboro: 13 euros (12.50 euros in 2025)
• Chesterfield: 13 euros (12.50 euros in 2025)
• Philip Morris: 13 euros (12.50 euros in 2025)
• Gauloises: 12.60 euros (12.30 euros in 2025)
• Gitanes: 14.20 euros (14.10 euros in 2025)
• Fortuna: 11.50 euros (11.40 euros in 2025)

An effective pricing policy to discourage smokers

In 2023, France still had nearly 12 million daily smokers, a figure that has stagnated since 2019. This follows an unprecedented decline in tobacco consumption observed between 2016 and 2019. Today, tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death in France with 75,000 attributable deaths each year, representing an estimated annual social cost of 156 billion euros.

Cigarette price increases are among the most effective levers to prevent young people from starting to smoke and to encourage smokers towards cessation. These policies are widely supported by the World Health Organization.

Vaping, a less costly alternative

For many smokers, quitting is encouraged by the increase in cigarette prices. The e-cigarette represents an effective tool for quitting, particularly because vaping is far less expensive. Although the initial purchase of an e-cigarette may represent an investment, the long-term cost is significantly lower than that of smoking. In addition, the use of e-liquids offers better control over spending.

To calculate the savings this transition represents, we invite you to use our Vape VS Tobacco savings calculator.

Even if the adoption of the e-cigarette is primarily motivated by financial reasons, it remains far less harmful to health than traditional tobacco. The e-cigarette produces no tar or carbon monoxide, two of the main harmful components of cigarette smoke. Moreover, vaping allows you to control nicotine levels, thus facilitating smoking cessation.

Discover our comparative article on budgets dedicated to tobacco vs vaping

Le Vapoteur Discount's support to protect your health and your budget

Le Vapoteur Discount offers a wide range of high-quality vaping products at affordable prices. Whether you are a beginner or experienced vaper, you will find everything you need with us for a successful vaping experience. In addition to our products, our experts are available to help you choose the product that best suits you and to answer all your questions about vaping.