Cigarettes or vaping: what each costs per month in Switzerland
Most people know what smoking costs in packs, but rarely in francs per month. Yet that monthly figure is what lets you compare with vaping and see whether switching is worthwhile for your budget. A fair comparison needs reliable figures: the reference price of a pack published by the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), the federal tax on e-liquids, and the costs specific to vaping, namely the device, the coils and the liquid.
This article does not promise a ready-made saving, because any saving depends on how much you consume. Instead, it gives you what you need to do the calculation yourself, in francs, and to spot what pushes the bill up or down. One condition applies from the outset: you only really save money if vaping replaces smoking, not if you do both.
Contents
What smoking costs each month
The price of a pack varies by brand and by where you buy it. To have a common basis, we use the FOPH figure: a pack of 20 cigarettes of the best-selling brand costs CHF 9.40. According to the FOPH, the federal tax on cigarettes has not been raised since 2013. Recent price increases have come mainly from the manufacturers.
On this basis, and for a 30-day month:
| Consumption | Packs per month | Cost per month | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 cigarettes a day | 7.5 | CHF 70.50 | CHF 857.75 |
| 10 cigarettes a day | 15 | CHF 141.00 | CHF 1,715.50 |
| 20 cigarettes a day | 30 | CHF 282.00 | CHF 3,431.00 |
These amounts give an order of magnitude. The price also depends on how you buy. The association AT Suisse calculated an average price of CHF 7.41 per pack when buying cartons of 30 or 40 packs from a major retailer. Someone who smokes a pack a day and buys by the carton therefore spends roughly CHF 220 a month. That is still a significant sum every month.
What makes up a vaping budget
Smoking involves a single expense that never changes. Vaping involves three, each recurring at a different rate.
The device: a one-off purchase
The device (battery and tank, or a pod kit) is bought once and generally lasts several months, often longer if it is well looked after. To compare on a monthly basis, divide its price by the number of months you expect to use it. Models and prices are shown in our selection of e-cigarettes.
Consumables: coils or pods
The coil heats the liquid and wears out over time. It needs replacing regularly. How often depends on the power you use, the liquid you choose and how well you maintain it. It is a small expense, but a frequent one, so it should be included in the calculation.
E-liquid and the federal tax
This is the main expense. Since the revision of tobacco legislation, liquids containing nicotine are subject to tobacco tax:
- Nicotine refill liquids: CHF 0.20 per millilitre, or CHF 2 for a 10 ml bottle.
- Nicotine-free liquids for refillable devices: not subject to this tax.
- Disposable vapes: CHF 1 per millilitre, with or without nicotine.
For example, if you vape 2 ml of nicotine liquid a day, the tax comes to CHF 0.40 a day, or about CHF 12 a month. The rest of the price depends on the liquid you choose. With a booster, a 10 ml bottle of nicotine added to a large nicotine-free bottle, only the booster is taxed. That means CHF 2 of tax for the whole mix. The same volume bought in ready-made 10 ml nicotine bottles is taxed on every millilitre. You will find both formats in our range of e-liquids in bottles and boosters, including the Swiss-made AZi Liquidus liquids.
Doing your own calculation and reducing the bill
The four-step method
- Your current cost: number of packs per month × the price you actually pay.
- Your liquid: millilitres vaped per day × 30 × price per millilitre (tax included).
- Your consumables: number of coils or pods per month × their unit price.
- Your device: price of the device ÷ number of months you expect to use it.
Add up the last three lines and compare the total with the first. There is a simple benchmark for someone who smokes a pack a day. Vaping works out cheaper as long as its total daily cost stays below the price of a pack, which is CHF 9.40 at the FOPH reference price.
What brings the bill down
- Stopping smoking completely: smoking and vaping at the same time means paying for both.
- Choosing a suitable device: a device that suits the way you draw saves you from replacing it too soon.
- Maintaining your device: a clean tank and a properly primed coil last longer.
- The liquid format: for the same volume, a booster carries less tax than ready-made 10 ml nicotine bottles.
- Gradually lowering your nicotine strength: this is a common goal among former smokers, and it means keeping track of your consumption.
To track these figures over time, the Savings tab of the My Vape app compares your spending with what you would spend on cigarettes. The app also lets you monitor your nicotine strength and includes a quit coach. You will find full details on the My Vape app page.
Budget is not the only consideration. According to the FOPH, e-cigarettes contain fewer harmful substances than conventional cigarettes. However, their long-term effects are still not well understood, and nicotine dependence remains. The FOPH therefore advises non-smokers against vaping.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pack of cigarettes cost in Switzerland?
The FOPH gives a figure of CHF 9.40 for a pack of 20 cigarettes of the best-selling brand. Actual prices vary by brand and how you buy. By the carton, the average recorded by AT Suisse is CHF 7.41 per pack.
Are nicotine-free e-liquids taxed?
No. For refillable devices, only liquids containing nicotine are subject to tobacco tax, at a rate of CHF 0.20 per millilitre. Disposable vapes are taxed at CHF 1 per millilitre, with or without nicotine.
How much can you save by switching to vaping?
It depends on how many cigarettes you smoke, how much liquid you use and which device you choose. The most reliable approach is to do the calculation with your own figures, using the four-step method above. Any saving assumes you stop smoking completely.
In summary
At the FOPH reference price, a pack a day amounts to CHF 282 a month and more than CHF 3,400 a year. A vaping budget is made up of the device, consumables and liquid. Only nicotine liquid is taxed, at CHF 0.20 per millilitre. Calculating with your own figures remains the best way to find out what switching would mean for you.
To choose a suitable device and estimate your consumption, the Vapoteurs Suisses team welcomes you in its shops in Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne and Villeneuve. You can also order online, with delivery throughout Switzerland from Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne.
The sale of vaping products is restricted to adults (18 and over in Switzerland). Vaping is not intended for non-smokers.