Smoking Cost Calculator
See what smoking costs you per year, and what the money could grow to if you quit and invested it.
About the Smoking Cost Calculator
Enter how many cigarettes you smoke a day, the pack price and size, how many years to look ahead, and a return if the money were invested instead. The calculator shows the cost per day, month and year, the total over the period, and what monthly investing could have grown it to.
Beyond the money, quitting at any age adds years of life; people who quit before 40 avoid about 90% of the excess risk of death from smoking.
The formula
Yearly cost = cigarettes per day ÷ pack size × pack price × 365.25
Worked example
15 a day at 9 per pack of 20
- Per day: 15 ÷ 20 × 9 = 6.75
- Per year: 2,465; over 10 years: 24,654
- Invested monthly at 7% instead: about 35,561
Things to keep in mind
- Prices usually rise each year, so the real cost is likely higher.
Questions people ask
Where can I get help to quit?
Your doctor or national quit line; in the US call 1-800-QUIT-NOW, in the UK see NHS Better Health.
Does vaping cost less?
Usually, but it isn't risk-free.
Do nicotine patches pay for themselves?
Usually quickly: a course of nicotine replacement typically costs less than a few weeks of smoking.