Cigarette Prices in Australia (2026)
⚠️ Customs Rules and Transport Limits
When entering Australia, a traveller aged 18 or over may bring in duty-free one unopened pack of up to 25 cigarettes, or 25 grams of other tobacco products, plus one open pack. Above that, everything must be declared and duty is paid on the whole quantity, not just the excess, or the surplus is surrendered. According to the Australian Border Force (ABF), failing to declare can lead to a fine or even a cancelled visa.
🌍 Overview
| Brands | Average Price |
|---|---|
| Marlboro | 40.54 € (A$64.99) |
| Benson & Hedges | 41.78 € (A$66.99) |
| Dunhill | 39.29 € (A$62.99) |
| Pall Mall | 26.51 € (A$42.50) |
| Chesterfield | 26.51 € (A$42.50) |
| Rothmans | 29.93 € (A$47.99) |
| Camel | 24.79 € (A$39.75) |
| Winston | 25.26 € (A$40.50) |
| Parliament | 24.48 € (A$39.25) |
| JPS (John Player Special) | 29.63 € (A$47.50) |
| Winfield | 30.56 € (A$48.99) |
📋 Tobacco Regulation & Policy
💰 Tax regime
Tobacco sold in Australia pays an excise-equivalent customs duty set per cigarette: 1.55274 Australian dollars since 1 September 2026, or A$31.05 per pack of 20. The 10% goods and services tax (GST) is added at the point of sale. Roll-your-own tobacco is taxed per kilogram, A$2,587.90, as if each cigarette contained 0.6 grams.
📈 Price policy
Duty is indexed every 1 March and 1 September to the change in average weekly ordinary time earnings (AWOTE) over the previous six months: +1.6% on 1 September 2026. On top of that came a 25% increase on 30 April 2010, eight annual 12.5% increases from 2013 to 2020, then three 5% increases on 1 September 2023, 2024 and 2025. The government does not set retail prices: manufacturers pass each increase on in their prices. Since July 2025, every pack sold contains 20 cigarettes.
🏛️ Key legislative milestones
In 1992, the federal Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act bans tobacco advertising.
On 30 April 2010, tobacco duty rises by 25% overnight.
On 1 December 2012, Australia becomes the first country in the world to require plain packaging for all tobacco products sold on its territory.
In 2013, a series of eight annual 12.5% increases in tobacco duty begins, running until 2020.
The 2023-24 budget schedules three additional 5% duty increases, on 1 September 2023, 2024 and 2025, and gradually raises the tax on roll-your-own tobacco.
In 2024, vapes may only be sold in pharmacies. Since 1 October 2024, an adult can buy a vape with a nicotine concentration of 20 mg/ml or less without a prescription, after talking with the pharmacist.
In late 2025, the federal Illicit Tobacco and E-cigarette Commissioner (ITEC) estimates that the illegal market made up 55% of the tobacco market in 2024-25.
On 3 June 2026, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimates that 80% of the nicotine consumed in 2025 came from illegal sources. On 1 September 2026, duty reaches A$1.55274 per cigarette.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Data & sources
Last updated :
Methodology : Prices surveyed at a single retailer, Smokemart, a national tobacconist chain: product pages archived on archive.org from 2021 to 2024, online prices on 14 October 2026. No usable survey for 2025, no interpolation. Converted into euros at the European Central Bank's annual average rate, and at the 13 October 2026 rate for 2026.
Main sources (6)
- Smokemart : pages produit archivées sur archive.org (2021-2024) et prix en ligne du 14 octobre 2026, eux aussi archivés
- ABF, douanes australiennes, avis n° 2026/32 : droits sur le tabac au 1er septembre 2026
- Cancer Council Victoria, Tobacco in Australia : fiscalité et prix du tabac
- ITEC, commissariat fédéral au tabac illicite : rapport 2024-25
- ABS : tabagisme quotidien (2022) et nicotine d'origine illicite (juin 2026)
- Banque centrale européenne : taux de change annuels du dollar australien
Provided for informational purposes only. Verify with official sources for any critical use.