Cigarette prices in France have been rising for years as part of government efforts to reduce smoking nationwide.
Manufacturers or importers propose retail prices that include production costs, distribution expenses, commercial margins, and applicable taxes for approval.
French authorities, mainly the Directorate General of Customs and Indirect Taxes, must approve the proposed prices before they are applied.
Once approved, the official price must be used nationwide, so tobacconists cannot set their own prices, offer discounts, or run promotions.
A cigarette pack’s price is divided into three parts: the manufacturer’s share of about 15%, the tobacconist’s margin between 8% and 10%, and the remainder paid in government taxes, which make up roughly 75% to 80% of the total, including excise duties and VAT calculated per quantity or value.
By January 2026, the average price of a 20-cigarette pack reached around 12.50 to 13 euros, with some brands above 13.50 euros and cheaper options slightly lower, reflecting two decades of increases from about three euros in the early 2000s and France’s ongoing strategy to discourage smoking.
