Short answer: a legal pack of 20 cigarettes in Australia costs roughly A$40 for the cheapest brands and A$60 or more for premium ones, and most packs sit around A$50 to A$55. About 70% of that is tax. Since 1 September 2026 the federal excise alone is A$1.55 per cigarette, or A$31.05 for a pack of 20, before GST is added. This page sets out the numbers, where they come from and when they change next.

中文简介：澳洲正规渠道一包 20 支装香烟现在大约 A$40（最便宜的品牌）到 A$60 以上（高端品牌），常见价位 A$50–55，其中约七成是税。2026 年 9 月 1 日起，烟草消费税是每支 A$1.55274，一包 20 支光消费税就是 A$31.05，另外还要加 10% GST。税率每年 3 月和 9 月按工资指数上调，下一次是 2027 年 3 月。

Tobacco excise per stick in 2026

Excise is charged on every cigarette made or imported for sale in Australia. The rate is set by the Australian Taxation Office and goes up twice a year, in March and September, in line with average weekly ordinary time earnings (AWOTE).

From Excise per stick Excise on a pack of 20
3 March 2026 A$1.52829 A$30.57
1 September 2026 A$1.55274 A$31.05

Rates are for cigarettes with no more than 0.8 g of tobacco each, which covers almost every factory-made cigarette. The September 2026 indexation factor was 1.016, a rise of 1.6%. Loose tobacco is taxed by weight instead: A$2,587.90 per kilogram from 1 September 2026.

How much a pack costs by price tier

There isn’t one “average” price, because brands are sold in very different tiers. The most recent survey of recommended retail prices (Cancer Council Victoria, September 2025) found:

Tier Average pack of 20 Per cigarette
Super value A$39.69 A$1.98
Value A$40.66 A$2.03
Mainstream A$54.99 A$2.75
Premium A$60.72 A$3.04

Two things to keep in mind. These are recommended prices, and the same survey shows people usually pay a little less, around 8% below RRP on average. And they were collected before the March and September 2026 excise rises, so shelf prices today are higher again.

Where the money goes in a A$50 pack

Part of the price Amount Share
Excise (20 × A$1.55274) A$31.05 62%
GST (1/11 of the shelf price) A$4.55 9%
Manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer A$14.40 29%

So on a A$50 pack, about A$35.60, or 71%, is tax. Because excise is a fixed amount per stick, the tax share is even higher on cheap packs: on a A$40 pack it is about 87%.

What smoking costs over a year

Habit Per week Per year
Half a pack a day (A$50 pack) A$175 A$9,125
A pack a day (A$50 pack) A$350 A$18,250
A pack a day (A$60 premium) A$420 A$21,900

These figures use today’s prices. With excise indexed twice a year, the real yearly cost will be a little higher.

Why cigarettes cost so much in Australia

Australia has used tax as one of its main tools to cut smoking. From 2013 to 2020 tobacco excise went up by 12.5% every year on top of normal indexation, and a further 5% a year was added from September 2023. The twice-yearly AWOTE indexation keeps going on top of that. The result is that excise per stick is roughly three times what it was a decade ago, and Australian cigarettes are among the most expensive in the world.

When prices go up next

The next excise change is due in early March 2027, when the rate is indexed to AWOTE again. Retail prices usually move within days of each change, as stock taxed at the new rate reaches shops.

FAQ

How much is a pack of cigarettes in Australia?

About A$40 for the cheapest legal brands and A$60 or more for premium brands, with most around A$50 to A$55 for a pack of 20.

How much tax is on a pack of cigarettes?

Excise of A$31.05 on a pack of 20 since 1 September 2026, plus GST of one-eleventh of the shelf price. On a A$50 pack that’s about A$35.60 in total.

How many cigarettes can I bring into Australia duty-free?

Travellers aged 18 and over can bring 25 cigarettes, or 25 g of other tobacco products, duty-free. If you go over the limit, duty and tax apply to all of the tobacco you’re carrying, not just the extra, so declare it on arrival. Check the Australian Border Force duty-free page before you travel, as the rules can change.

Why are cigarettes cheaper overseas?

Most countries tax cigarettes far less than Australia. The excise on a single Australian cigarette is more than many countries charge for a whole pack.

Sources