In the 2026 budget, cigarette prices went up mainly through higher excise duties, but the exact amount depends on the country and product type.

Malaysia (Budget 2026)

In Malaysia’s Budget 2026, the government raised the excise duty on cigarettes by 2 sen (RM0.02) per stick , effective 1 November 2025.

  • For a standard pack of 20 cigarettes, this means a tax increase of 40 sen (RM0.40) per pack.
  • The extra revenue from tobacco and alcohol taxes is earmarked for health spending, including the Ministry of Health’s Healthy Lung Initiative and treatment for diabetes and heart disease.

United Kingdom (Autumn Budget 2024 / 2026 changes)

In the UK, the Autumn Budget 2024 announced a one‑off increase in tobacco duty to match the new Vaping Products Duty (VPD) from October 2026:

  • Tobacco duty will rise by £2.20 per 100 cigarettes (i.e., £0.022 per cigarette).
  • This is equivalent to about £0.44 extra per pack of 20 , plus the existing duty and VAT, so the actual retail price rise will be higher.

United States (State example: Maine)

In the U.S., cigarette tax changes are usually at state level. For example, in Maine, a tax change effective 5 January 2026 increased the tax on a pack of cigarettes from $2.00 to $3.50 per pack :

  • That’s a $1.50 increase per pack in state tax alone.
  • Local and federal taxes are added on top, so the total price rise at the till is higher.

India (Early 2026 price hike)

In India, a new excise duty introduced at the start of 2026 is expected to raise cigarette prices by 15–40% , depending on brand and length:

  • A typical ₹18 cigarette may go up by ₹3–4, to around ₹21–22.
  • Premium king‑size brands (like Marlboro, Gold Flake Premium) could see increases of ₹5–11 per stick.

How much the final price rose

The actual price increase at the store depends on:

  • The base tax hike (excise/duty).
  • Whether manufacturers pass on the full tax or absorb part of it.
  • Retailer markup and local taxes.

So, in a typical pack:

  • Malaysia : Roughly 40 sen more per pack (20 sticks).
  • UK : Around 40–50p more per pack from the duty change, plus other taxes.
  • Maine, USA : $1.50 more per pack in state tax alone.
  • India : ₹3–10 more per pack , depending on brand.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.