What a Carton of Cigarettes Costs Where You Live
Key takeaways
Shelf prices are not published in an official series, but the tax inside the price is. Federal excise is about $38.92 per carton of 200 everywhere from 1 April 2026, and provincial tobacco tax ranges from $36.95 in Ontario to $68.80 in the Northwest Territories among the rates we could confirm.
What this page shows
A carton of cigarettes costs a different amount in each province, and part of that difference is tax. This page compares the tobacco tax built into a carton of 200 cigarettes, using rates published by each government, so you can see how much of the difference is policy.
It does not show shelf prices. We did not find an official, current series of average retail cigarette prices by province, and we do not publish prices taken from retailers or news stories.
Ranking of provincial tax per carton
| Province or territory | Provincial tax | With federal excise | Bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nunavut | $80.00 | $118.92 | |
| Yukon | $74.00 | $112.92 | |
| Northwest Territories | $68.80 | $107.72 | |
| British Columbia | $65.00 | $103.92 | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $65.00 | $103.92 | |
| Alberta | $60.00 | $98.92 | |
| Manitoba | $60.00 | $98.92 | |
| Prince Edward Island | $60.00 | $98.92 | |
| Nova Scotia | $59.04 | $97.96 | |
| Saskatchewan | $58.00 | $96.92 | |
| New Brunswick | $51.04 | $89.96 | |
| Quebec | $37.80 | $76.72 | |
| Ontario | $36.95 | $75.87 |
Among the jurisdictions confirmed on official pages, provincial tobacco tax per carton runs from $36.95 in Ontario to $80.00 in Nunavut, a gap of $43.05 per carton before any difference in the manufacturer's price or sales tax. Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Yukon and Nunavut are not ranked because their rates are not yet confirmed from an official page.
The full table with dates
| Province or territory | Provincial tax per cigarette | Provincial tax per carton | Plus federal excise | In effect since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $0.325 | $65.00 | $103.92 | 2021-07-01 |
| Alberta | $0.3 | $60.00 | $98.92 | 2024-03-01 |
| Saskatchewan | $0.29 | $58.00 * | $96.92 | 2022-03-24 |
| Manitoba | $0.3 | $60.00 | $98.92 | 2019-06-30 |
| Ontario | $0.18475 | $36.95 * | $75.87 | 2018-03-29 |
| Quebec | $0.189 | $37.80 * | $76.72 | 2023-02-09 |
| New Brunswick | $0.2552 | $51.04 * | $89.96 | 2017-02-01 |
| Nova Scotia | $0.2952 | $59.04 * | $97.96 | 2020-02-26 |
| Prince Edward Island | $0.3 | $60.00 * | $98.92 | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $0.325 | $65.00 * | $103.92 | 2021-06-01 |
| Yukon | $0.37 | $74.00 * | $112.92 | 2026-01-01 |
| Northwest Territories | $0.344 | $68.80 * | $107.72 | 2022-08-01 |
| Nunavut | $0.4 | $80.00 * | $118.92 | 2025-03-12 |
Federal excise duty is $38.92 per carton of 200 cigarettes from 2026-04-01 (calculated from $0.97299 per 5 cigarettes). * Carton figure calculated from the per-cigarette rate. Sales taxes are not included.Download the table (CSV).
Reading the numbers
- Federal excise is the same everywhere. From 1 April 2026 it is $0.97299 per 5 cigarettes, about $38.92 per carton of 200.
- Provincial tax is the main difference. Each province or territory sets its own rate and changes it on its own schedule, so the “in effect since” date can be years apart.
- Sales tax is not included. GST, HST, PST or QST may apply on top, depending on the jurisdiction.
Get your own number
Enter the price you pay in the cost of smoking calculator to see what a year of smoking costs, or use the quit-smoking savings calculator to see what you would keep.
Figures are estimates for planning. Actual prices and taxes vary by seller and date. Read the full disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find the average price of a pack in my province?
We did not find an official series of average retail cigarette prices by province, so we do not publish one. Use the price you actually pay in the cost calculator.
How is the carton tax calculated?
Where a province states its tax per cigarette, we multiply by 200 to get the carton figure and mark it as calculated. The federal duty of $0.97299 per 5 cigarettes is multiplied by 40.
Do the figures include sales tax?
No. They show tobacco taxes only. Sales taxes are not included.
Sources
- Excise duty rates (tobacco and vaping duty rates) — Canada Revenue Agency. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- British Columbia: tobacco tax — Government of British Columbia. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Alberta: tax and levy rates — Government of Alberta. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Saskatchewan: tobacco tax — Government of Saskatchewan. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Manitoba: tobacco tax — Government of Manitoba. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Ontario: tobacco tax rates — Government of Ontario. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Newfoundland and Labrador: tobacco tax — Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Accessed October 27, 2026.
- Northwest Territories: tobacco tax — Government of the Northwest Territories. Accessed October 27, 2026.