The 10 Most Expensive Cigarettes in the World (In 2023)

Tobacco has played an integral role in human existence since it was initially cultivated in Central America an estimated seven millennia ago – although back then, the most expensive cigarette was not a concept that would have been of interest to anyone.

Tobacco became an essential plant/crop and eventually spread across the Atlantic Ocean as a premier colonial trade item that helped to support the economic growth and health of the American Colonies and, ultimately – the U.S.

Around the time the American Civil War began, tobacco and the use of cigarettes had gained enough domestic popularity that the government set forth the first national tax on cigarettes/tobacco in 1864. After the war, the tobacco industry ballooned into a major product, with recent estimates revealing that 1-in-4 adults around the globe smoke. 

According to Statistica, in 2023, cigarettes grabbed the largest tobacco market segment with $834.7 billion in revenue (US dollars) of the total $941 billion market revenue.

Source - Statistica

As the graph notes, the tobacco trade market is expected to grow – at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.55%.

Despite the controversies surrounding tobacco use, no one can deny the fact that the revenue from this product remains significant now and in the foreseeable future. As a result, our curiosity got the best of us, and we set out on a mission to see just how much some people are willing to pay for the upper reaches of the most expensive cigarettes in the US and across the world, which, in reality, is really a luxury item, with prices for a pack of these cigarettes hitting stratospheric levels.

The 10 Most Expensive Cigarettes

It turns out that there are some incredibly expensive cigarette brands and options from which to choose. For curious smokers, check out the list below that includes the cost of a pack for each of the most expensive cigarettes in the world.

While these pricey alternatives to traditional smokes are typically out of reach for the everyday smoker, it is noted that cigarette prices vary widely depending on where you live and the type/brand you prefer. For example, those living in the south, where tobacco fields abound, will find the cost more affordable than island states (i.e., Hawaii) or island nations (i.e., Australia), where prices run highest.

Note that among the most expensive cigarettes in the world brands noted below, prices will also vary, so the price per pack for the pricey cigarette brands noted below are approximate.

10. Export A's - $20 a pack

Export A's are crafted from premium Virginia leaf tobacco and were first introduced as MacDonald Tobacco's Gold Standard. Smoking Export A's offers smokers a variety of delicious, rich, and satisfying blends in the company’s brand-new revamped, square "Slide & Shell" box.

9. Parliament Hybrid 2-in-1 – Price per pack varies.

The Parliament 2-in-1 is a unique cigarette created for those who like menthol and non-menthol cigarette options. The Parliament Hybrid 2-in-1 version is more expensive because it offers smokers the ability to squeeze the innovative filter so a menthol capsule can burst inside, morphing the plain cigarette into the menthol version.  

8. Woodbine Virginia Blend - $20 a pack

Woodbine Virginia Blend ranks cigarettes rank among the United Kingdom's best-known classic, premium cigarettes, and at one time, they were the most iconic cigarette brand available in England. These untipped smokes are packed in a crush-proof pack and offer a smooth, premium blend of the finest Virginia tobacco.

7. Dunhills - $20 a pack

The iconic, distinctive, and classy Dunhill cigarettes were first offered in 1908 in a small tobacconist shop in England. Dunhills are exported across the globe and are considered a high-class cigarette, which is why it is a ranking member of the most expensive cigarette in the world club. The most renowned Dunhill smokers were John Lennon and Hunter S. Thompson. Dunhill cigarettes are available in a variety of flavors and nicotine strengths.

6. Marlboro Vintage: $24 a pack

This unusual red and black Marlboro pack will set you back a pretty penny; however, they are not actually vintage smokes but crafted to be reminiscent of the genuine vintage cigarettes advertised by the Marlboro Man during the golden age of smoking decades ago. Marlboro brand cigarettes are known for their smooth taste and comfortable grip.

5. Black Devil - $25+ a pack

The Black Devil is a Dutch-manufactured cigarette from Huepink & Bloemen that is marketed in about two dozen countries around the globe. Black Devil cigarettes are made with cutting-edge technology, with a design and packaging that has made them instantly recognizable as well as popular and expensive. This most expensive cigarette is offered in a number of flavors and blends, and the aroma produced by the cigarette is more like burning incense than that of a typical burning smoke.  

4. Nat Shermans - $25 a pack

Long before 'luxury cigarettes' became a must-have trend, the Nat Sherman company was a tobacconist with a store near the corner of 5^th Avenue/42^nd Street in New York City that opened more than a century ago. Intriguingly, Nat Sherman created his wealth by running a speakeasy during the 1920s during prohibition. Nat Shermans are available in a variety of blends and nicotine levels and are meticulously made of the best 100% natural tobacco.  

3. Sobranie Black Russians - $30 - $50 a pack

Founded in the 1800s, Sobranie cigarettes were always considered an elite brand that was enjoyed by ambassadors, celebrities, diplomats, and the like. The packaging for this most expensive cigarette in the world is a beautiful black and gold pack with gold foil inside that creates a look and feel that defines classy. Sobranie Black Russians offer a heavy, black, and nicotine-rich cigarette that is made from a blend of tobacco sourced from different countries. Sobranie Black Russian cigarette has been a favorite cigarette of Russian smokers for years due to its luxurious velvety aroma coupled with a bit of tartness.

2. Treasurer Aluminum Gold - $80 a pack

This gorgeous gleaming golden packet of cigarettes is among the most luxurious in the world, although only available in a few select locations in the USA. The Treasurer Aluminum Gold Cigarette is a new product by the Treasurer Tobacco Company and is a new, innovative, nicotine-free cigarette that offers a unique and exciting smoking experience for the refined smoker.

1. Treasurer Luxury Black - $100 a pack

Above and beyond even the Treasurer Aluminum Golds, the Luxury variants of their gold, silver, and black cigarettes are the pinnacle of the tobacconists' art - the Chancellor Tobacco Company’s Treasurer Luxury Blacks cigarettes. Luxury cigarettes from the Chancellor Tobacco Company are slightly longer than traditional king-size cigarettes, as they provide a lighter and milder smoking experience preferred by modern smokers. These special cigarettes are imported from England and have an old-world charm that remains unmatched by cheaper brands.

Final Thoughts

If you're wondering what the uber-wealthy smoke when they aren't enjoying a Cuban cigar, now you know.

We hope you were surprised and enlightened to learn which were the most expensive cigarettes in the US and the world. Who knew that there are cigarette brands that are so expensive that a single cigarette retails for the same price as a traditional pack of smokes enjoyed by most everyday smokers?

Perhaps, if you're a smoker,  you have added a new item to your personal bucket list.

You can also read:

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• The 10 Most Expensive Sandwiches in the World
• The 10 Most Expensive Meats in the World
• The 10 Most Expensive Liquors Money Can Buy
• The 10 Most Expensive Bottled Water Brands