The price of cigarettes is substantially different across Europe. As of 2025, the most expensive EU country in which to purchase cigarettes was Ireland, with a pack of 20 cigarettes retailing at euros, followed by France at euros. Cigarette prices in Europe are driven by the respective taxes imposed within each of the member states and consist of a specific duty per 1,000 cigarettes and an ad valorem rate on the recommended retail.Â
Tobacco taxes
Variations in cigarette prices are often a result of the different tobacco taxes across European countries. For instance, in Finland where the price for a pack of cigarettes is relatively high, the tobacco tax makes up more than percent of the price. When comparing cigarette prices to the share of individuals who currently smoke cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, or a pipe in European countries, a general trend is observable. Many of those countries with relatively high cigarette prices have comparably lower shares of smokers. Nonetheless, many other factors can influence smoking behavior.