If you’re wondering how much vaping costs, the short answer is: it depends on how you vape. For most adult smokers, vaping is significantly cheaper than smoking.

The exact cost factors in the type of device you choose, how often you vape, and whether you use beginner-friendly products like prefilled pods and refillable kits or more advanced mods or sub-ohm devices.

In this guide, we break down how vaping compares to smoking, how much vapes cost in the UK, including upfront device prices, ongoing E-Liquid and pod costs, and how the Vaping Products Duty will affect prices in October.

Is Vaping Cheaper Than Smoking?

For most adult smokers, vaping is significantly cheaper than smoking. Here’s an example comparison for a moderate vaper using one pod per week versus a moderate smoker (10 cigarettes per day) in the UK:

*Based on IVG PRO 12 10,000-puff prefilled pod, with one pod used per week.

As this table shows, even a moderate vaper can save thousands of pounds a year compared to smoking.

For more tips on transitioning from cigarettes to vaping, check out Switching to Vaping: A Complete Guide for Adult Smokers.

What if I Smoke and Vape?

Some people don’t see immediate savings if they vape and smoke at the same time, known as dual use. This is often a transitional phase while cutting down on cigarettes, and savings usually increase once smoking stops altogether.

You can learn more about this behaviour in our blog: Dual Use and What It Means for Smokers and Vapers.

If your goal is quitting smoking completely, our blog Quitting Smoking: A Complete Guide for Adult Smokers explains what you can expect on that journey.

How Much Does a Vape Cost?

When people ask “how much does a vape cost?”, they’re often thinking about the upfront price. In reality, the type of vape you choose has a bigger impact on what you’ll spend over time.

Some options are cheaper to start but cost more long term, while others have a higher upfront cost but are more economical month to month.

These tables give a realistic picture of how much a vape costs in the UK, including up-front device costs and ongoing equipment costs.

Vape Upfront Costs (Device)

Here’s a quick overview of typical upfront vape device costs and how long they’re designed to last:

Ongoing Costs (Consumables & E-Liquid)

Here’s a breakdown of ongoing costs and consumables for different vape device types:

Always remember that cost varies depending on usage. The more you vape, the higher the cost.

How Does Vaping Frequency Affect Cost?

Your ongoing vaping costs depend on:

• How often you vape – the more frequently you take puffs, the faster you go through pods or E-Liquid.
• Device type – prefilled pods, refillable pods, and sub-ohm/mod systems all have different ongoing costs. Heavy usage + higher device costs = bigger monthly spend.

Here’s a realistic monthly estimate for most UK vapers based on usage:

Even at the higher end, vaping typically costs less than smoking, especially once cigarettes are fully replaced.

Choosing a device designed for value can make a noticeable difference. Our breakdown of which IVG vape offers the best value for money compares popular options based on real-world usage.

How Much Does Vape Juice Cost?

If you use refillable or pod-based devices, E-Liquid is your main ongoing cost.

Nicotine salts (10ml bottles)

• Typically around £3.99 per bottle
• One bottle lasts 2–3 days for most users

Shortfills (50ml–100ml)

• Cost £6.99–£14.99
• Last 1–2 weeks, depending on usage
• Popular with sub-ohm kits and lower nicotine setups

How Much Does a Disposable Vape Cost?

Disposable vapes were previously priced around £5–£15 in the UK, depending on puff count and format. They became popular because they offered:

• No charging or maintenance
• No E-Liquid or coil changes
• A low upfront cost for trying vaping

However, single-use disposable vapes are now banned in the UK (1 June 2025), meaning they’re no longer an option.

If you were previously using disposables, the closest legal alternative is a prefilled pod kit, which offers similar convenience but with a rechargeable device and replaceable pods.

These systems are designed to be more cost-effective over time and significantly better from an environmental perspective.

How the Vaping Products Duty Will Affect Vape Prices

From October 2026, the UK will introduce a new Vaping Products Duty (VPD) on E-Liquids, based on volume and nicotine strength. The duty is expected to add around £2.20 per 10ml of E-Liquid (plus VAT), affecting nicotine salts, shortfills, and nicotine shots. This means ongoing vaping costs are likely to rise once the duty comes into force.

What this means for vapers:

• Short term (now – pre-VPD): Vape prices are expected to remain stable, so the costs in this guide reflect current pricing.
• After VPD introduction: High-consumption vapers, especially sub-ohm users, will see the largest increases. Low-consumption setups, like prefilled pod systems, will see smaller relative changes.
• Devices are unaffected: The duty applies only to E-Liquids, not to hardware such as devices, pods, tanks, or batteries.

For a detailed breakdown, see our guide: Vaping Products Duty and What It Means for Vapers .

So, How Much Does Vaping Really Cost?

For most adult smokers in the UK, vaping costs significantly less than smoking, often by hundreds or thousands of pounds per year. The key difference is flexibility: vaping costs are largely under your control.

• Prefilled pods: Ideal for people who shop for convenience and simplicity, just pop in a pod and vape.
• Refillable kits: Best for long-term savings and flexibility with flavours and nicotine strength.
• Mods/Sub Ohm kits: Perfect for enthusiasts who don’t mind spending a bit more on customisation, performance, and experimenting with E-Liquid flavours.

If you’re thinking about making the switch, our complete guide to switching to vaping for adult smokers walks through device choice, nicotine strength, and how to get started confidently.

Things to Watch Out For When Buying Vapes

Even though vaping isn’t typically expensive, there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure you get a good product at a fair price:

• Shipping costs: Buying online can be convenient, but factor in delivery charges; sometimes a “cheap” kit ends up costing more once shipping is added. However, if you shop around, you can find plenty of great deals online.
• Too good to be true: Very low prices can signal poor-quality devices, E-Liquids or counterfeit products. Safety and reliability should be at the top of your list when considering cost.
• Stick to well-known brands: Trusted brands offer consistent quality, safer devices and better-tasting E-Liquid.
• Check consumables pricing: Pods, coils, and E-Liquids vary in price; a cheap device with expensive replacement pods can end up costing more over time.

Which IVG Device Offers the Best Value for Money?

Now that you’ve seen how vaping costs vary by usage and device, it’s useful to look at real-world examples. Some devices may cost more upfront but save money over time with larger pod capacities or efficient E-Liquid use.

For example, the IVG XL35 offers the largest pod capacity with up to 35,000 puffs, and the SMART MAX has a lower puff count at up to 10,000, but gives vapers more control with Eco and Boost Modes.

For a full breakdown of IVG devices, puff counts, refill costs, and which suits different vapers, see: Which IVG Vape Offers the Best Value for Money.

Ready to compare costs and find the device that works for you? Browse our full range of IVG vapes and E-Liquids.