Smoking is an expensive habit that costs the average smoker upwards of £4,000 a year.* Vaping, on the other hand, is considerably cheaper with the potential to save ex-smokers up to £780 a year.
More so, research funded by Cancer Research UK found vaping to be more cost-effective than nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) which result in savings of just £680 per year.
But the costs of smoking aren't solely financial – smoking presents a serious cost to both your wallet and your health as the biggest preventable cause of death in the UK.
And yet, there is a cheaper alternative in terms of both health and finances: vaping. Significantly cheaper and considerably less harmful than cigarettes, vaping is reported to increase ex-smokers' disposable income by around an eighth.
How Much Does Smoking Cost Me?
The UK is one of the most expensive countries in Europe for smokers with the cost of cigarettes constantly increasing. Since 2007, the price of a 20-pack of cigarettes has increased by an astonishing 150%, rising from just £5.33 to as much as £12.72. With prices only set to increase, smoking is growing increasingly unaffordable.
Are Vapes Cheaper than Cigarettes?
Vaping is a cheaper, less harmful alternative to smoking and making the switch comes with benefits to your wallet.
How much cheaper is vaping than smoking?
While studies show that vapers can expect to save up to £15.06 per week when making the switch, the actual cost of vaping depends on factors such as:
- Your smoking/vaping habits (how often you vape)
- The type of device and preferred inhaling method
- The quality and cost of your chosen e-liquids
For those that use their e-cigarette in the same way they use a cigarette, a 10ml bottle of e-liquid will last between 5 and 7 days to replace almost 140 cigarettes. This would cost smokers £84 in comparison to the £7.50 spent on two bottles of OK Vape 50:50 e-liquid.
Though the initial setup and the ongoing maintenance of your e-cig may seem expensive, the total cost of upkeeping your vape kit is minimal compared to the price of cigarettes. With Cigalikes available from as little as £3.00 and low-cost refills costing just £5, the cost of vaping is significantly cheaper than smoking. Some even believe that switching to vaping can start to save you money as soon as the third of the fourth day.
No matter your smoking habits, it's clear that e-cigs are a budget-friendly alternative to tobacco products.
The Real Costs of Smoking
The impact of smoking extends far beyond disposable income. Reports show that the impact of smoking on health and productivity costs the UK economy £17bn every year, £2.5bn of which is shouldered by the NHS. From emergency care to long-term support, smoking-related concerns take up a significant portion of the NHS budget.
Plus, with almost 50% of all smokers said to die prematurely as a direct result of their smoking habits, the cost of smoking amounts to around 100 million years of lost life.
