Like all habits, vaping and smoking come at a price—your physical health, mental wellbeing, and your wallet all suffer. Small, frequent purchases of vapes or packs of cigarettes might not seem like much, but they add up over time. Even once a week or once a month purchases can add up over the course of a year. So if you’ve ever checked your bank account, only to find that your balance is lower than you expected, this might be the moment to reconsider your habit.
What’s the True Cost of Smoking?
The true cost of smoking is far higher than the simple cost of a pack of cigarettes ($8.39) or a vape ($10-30). According to the American Lung Association, smoking costs almost 116 billion dollars in direct health expenditures, and an additional 67 billion in workplace productivity losses every single year. Put differently, the “true” cost of a pack of cigarettes to our society is over three times the retail price.
Smoking hurts us collectively, but the individual price of smoking is equally staggering. By kicking the habit, nicotine users themselves save, on average, between $1,380 and $2,540 annually on nicotine products alone. For heavy smokers, savings can be even higher, with some experts estimating up to $14,000 in just one year. Imagine what you could do with the extra savings—that’s up to $14,000 in your pocket to invest in yourself, whether that means taking your dream vacation, building up a rainy day fund, or simply treating yourself to dinner here and there.
And the financial benefits of quitting don’t stop there—you’ll also notice that you get sick less often, meaning fewer visits to the doctor and taking fewer sick days off from work. In fact, smokers, on average, spend 40% more on healthcare than non-smokers, which include emergency room visits, physician visits, inpatient care, and home visits. Taken altogether, these smoking attributable healthcare costs (or SAHEs) average to $2,752 per current smoker, with costs increasing with every year of consumption. And those are only the medical bills that are directly linked to smoking!
When you quit, your overall health gradually improves, and you’ll end up saving on indirect or unexpected bills, too. You might notice you’ll also need to go to the dentist less often, since quitting reduces the risk of gum disease and tooth discoloration, meaning you’ll need fewer cleanings, whitenings, and other costly (and often painful) procedures to keep your smile bright and healthy. After quitting, insurance premiums also decrease—whether for health, life, and even home insurance. Some life insurance premiums for smokers, for instance, can be up to four times more expensive than for non-smokers. A 40-year-old male smoker can expect to pay $1,458 while a 40-year-old male nonsmoker would pay only $334 for the same term. You simply shouldn’t have to pay so much to protect yourself, your belongings, or the ones you love.
Put differently, the “true” cost of a pack of cigarettes to our society is over three times the retail price.
But What About Vaping? Isn’t Vaping More Affordable?
Some argue that vaping is a more affordable alternative than cigarettes, but studies show otherwise. Many who turn to vaping as a cessation tool ultimately end up becoming dual users—continuing to smoke while also vaping at the same time. Overall, this leads to an increase in both total nicotine use per day and total nicotine dependence, not to mention an extra financial burden in order to pay for both vapes and cigarettes.
As for medical costs, there is simply not enough research on the long-term health effects of vaping. But enough evidence exists to show that the risks from vaping are real, from searing headaches to popcorn lung to blood clots. We also don’t know what conditions may develop in the coming years from vaping, since the technology hasn’t been around for long enough. The best way to avoid future medical bills is to quit.
All to say, whether you vape or smoke (or both)—quitting can save you tens of thousands of dollars each year, and more importantly, help you stay healthy.
Are you feeling ready to quit vaping? We’re here to help.
One nice benefit of quitting is that when you stop having to buy vapes and cigarettes every few days, you’ll notice pretty quickly you have a little extra in the bank. In just a short period of time, you’ll have more resources to invest in things that truly matter to you. Even spending on quitting can be cost effective. Jones mints costs $69, compared to the average cost of vaping of $126. After three months of Jones, you’ll have saved up to $171 dollars. And the best part? You’ll also start to feel better—within just a few weeks, you’ll notice you have more energy, a better sense of smell and taste, and an easier time exercising.
So if you’re ready to quit, we’re here for you. You can text us anytime you need help (no, really!) with our Text with Jones program. Simply sign up by texting “quitter” to +1 (385) 526-4708 for 30 days of free motivational and habit building texts. You can also talk to our in-app AI coach, Coach Jones, to answer your most specific questions and help you get through your cravings. NRT (like Jones mints) increase quit rates by 50-60%, and these behavioral support programs can up that rate by an additional 20%.
Quitting isn’t always easy, but it’s one of the best investments you can make in yourself. And remember—slip-ups are normal, and cravings are a part of the process, but you should be proud that you took the first step in giving back to yourself. After all, quitting isn’t just about saving money—it’s about taking back your life. Health is wealth, and you deserve both.
The Author: Hilary Dubin
Hilary Dubin is the founder of Jones and quit nicotine herself using NRT. She knows the highs and lows of the quitting journey.
