One of the first questions we’re asked about vaping is cost. While many e-cigarette retailers claim you can save lots of money by switching, there are not too many specific comparisons to regular cigarettes.
Over the years, the cost of traditional cigarettes (…or ‘analog’ cigarettes as they’re known to experienced vapers) have dramatically increased. In fact, the cost per pack has nearly doubled in the past 5 years!!
Some of this is due to increased cost for the raw material – tobacco. But other factors like federal, state and local taxes though have been a main driver too. In 2009 for example, the federal government raised its excise tax on cigarettes from $0.39 to $1.01. And in light of constraining budgets, many states have raised their taxes on cigarettes in order to raise operating revenues.
State tobacco taxes range in amount from a mere $0.17 per pack in Missouri to an astounding $4.35 per pack in New York State. Even some localities like New York City assess taxes on tobacco products, resulting in a cost of well over $10 per pack in some areas!!
E-cigarettes are not subject to these taxes (…not yet anyway. It’s been suggested by some that e-cigarettes be subject to the same taxes as analogs. We strongly oppose any moves like this.)
The absence of these taxes alone makes e-cigarettes compelling in terms of cost. Although up-front cost may be slightly more than a week’s worth of analogs, the ongoing cost are significantly less unless you try multiple models and buy large quantities of the most expensive nicotine liquid.
Let’s take a look at the following scenario to illustrate.
Let’s say George averages a pack a day at a cost of $6 per pack. That works out to around to around $72 per week. Monthly, George spends around $290, which works out to nearly $3500 annually.
Keep in mind though – this doesn’t include cost for lighters, ashtrays, air fresheners and the cost of replacing clothes with burn holes in them.
One day, George discovers Modern Vapor and e-cigarettes and decides to make the switch. His first expense will be a starter kit, which averages around $50-$70 but can be as low as $25 or as high as $130 for our Sidesho starter kit. Let’s say he chooses the $75 kit, which includes everything he needs to get started.
From here, all George will need to invest in are replacement parts like batteries, atomizers and of course e-liquid. On average, this will cost anywhere from $20-$40 per week depending on how much George enjoys vaping and the type of e-liquid he chooses.
If we use the high estimate, George is looking at an ongoing cost of around $2100 annually, significantly less than the $3500 annual cost of analog cigarettes.
As you can see from this basic example, the cost of vaping, even when using high estimates, can be significantly cheaper than traditional smoking. Of course, George could do certain things to mitigate his costs even more like clean his atomizers, fill his own cartridges or even make his own e-liquid.
If you’re looking for a lower cost alternative to traditional cigarettes, you can’t overlook the potential of e-cigarettes from Modern Vapor. Check out our line of e-cig starter kits – the Sidesho, 902 and Lux – today and begin seeing the savings for yourself today.
