From budget-friendly starter kits to premium advanced mods, the price of a vape varies wildly. But the price tag on the box is only half the story. We break down the real costs of vaping versus smoking to help you budget for your switch.
With the cost of living still a major concern for households across the UK, and the price of a standard pack of 20 cigarettes now averaging around £16.50, many smokers are looking to vaping not just for health reasons, but for financial survival.
However, walking into a vape shop or browsing online can be confusing. You might see a disposable-style kit for £5 sitting next to a specialized mod for £50. Which one is actually the better deal? The answer lies in understanding the difference between the "upfront cost" (what you pay today) and the "running cost" (what you pay every week). In this guide, we crunch the numbers to show you exactly how much you can expect to spend in 2026.
Key Takeaways
Hardware is a One-Off Investment: You only pay for the battery device once. A reliable starter kit typically costs between £5 and £25.
Liquids are Where You Save: A 10ml bottle of e-liquid can cost just £2.50 (with our multibuy deals) and can last as long as 3-4 packs of cigarettes.
Refillable Wins on Value: While prefilled pod kits are convenient, refillable "open systems" are legally the cheapest way to vape in the UK.
The "Pack-a-Day" Reality: Switching from smoking to a refillable vape can save a heavy smoker over £4,000 a year.
The Upfront Cost: Buying Your Hardware
The first thing you need is the device itself. Think of this like buying a razor handle—you pay a bit more at the start, but you keep it for months or years.
Starter Vape Kits (with Refillable Pods): This is the sweet spot for most beginners. You can pick up a high-quality, refillable pod kit like the Vapouriz Fuse or a Vaporesso Xros Mini for between £10 and £20. These devices are rechargeable and built to last.
Prefilled Pod Kits: These are often cheaper to buy upfront, sometimes as low as £5 to £10 for the battery device. However, just like a cheap printer, the manufacturers make their money back on the cartridges (pods) later.
Advanced Vape Kits: If you want huge clouds, touch screens, and massive battery life, you are looking at an investment of £30 to £50+. These are typically for hobbyists who view vaping as a pastime rather than just a nicotine delivery method.
The Running Cost: Pods vs. E-Liquids
This is where the real maths happens. Once you have the kit, what does it cost to keep it running?
The "Convenience Premium" (Prefilled Pods)
Prefilled kits like the Gold Bar Reload, the SKE BAR or the Lost Mary BM600 Prefilled Pod Kit. You are paying for the convenience of never having to refill a pod from a bottle of e-liquid.
Typical Cost: A pack of two pods (2ml each) costs around £5.99.
Value: That’s roughly £1.50 per ml of liquid.
The "Smart Saver" (Bottled E-Liquid)
Refillable kits, like the Oxva Xlim Go 2 or the Vaporesso XROS 5 allow you to buy, and refill from, e-liquid in 10ml bottles. This is essentially the same liquid found in prefilled pods, but you pour it in yourself.
Typical Cost: With our 4 for £10 Multibuy Deal, a bottle costs just £2.50.
Value: That’s just 25p per ml of liquid.
Note: Bought as individual units, a single 10 bottle of e-liquid typically costs between £3.99 - £5.99.
The Verdict: By taking ten seconds to squeeze a bottle into a pod, you are paying six times less for your e-liquid compared to prefilled pods.
The Weekly Shop: Smoking vs. Vaping
Let’s look at a real-world scenario for a typical "Pack-a-Day" smoker (20 cigarettes) compared to the different vaping styles.
The Pack-a-Day Smoker
Usage: 7 packs per week.
Cost: 7 x £16.50
Weekly Spend: ~£115.50
Annual Cost: £6,006
The Prefilled Pod Kit Vaper
Usage: Approx. 1 pod per day (equivalent to 20 cigs).
Cost: 3.5 packs of pods (at £5.99 per pack).
Weekly Spend: ~£21.00
Annual Cost: £1,092
Annual Saving: £4,914
The Refillable Vaper (Maximum Value)
Usage: Approx. 2-3 bottles of e-liquid + a fraction of a coil/pod cost.
Cost: 3 bottles (at £2.50 each) + £2 for a replacement pod.
Weekly Spend: ~£9.50
Annual Cost: £494
Annual Saving: £5,512
Even if you choose the more expensive prefilled route, you are saving nearly £5,000 a year. But if you choose a refillable kit, you are saving enough to essentially pay for a luxury holiday every single year.
What About the Vape Tax?
You may have seen headlines about a new "Vaping Products Duty" coming to the UK. It is confirmed that a new tax on e-liquids will be introduced in October 2026.
While this will eventually add a small charge to bottles of e-liquid, prices right now in early early 2026 remain free of any specific excise duty. Even when the duty arrives next year, the price difference between vaping and smoking will remain massive, as tobacco duty is also set to rise. Vaping will always be the financially smarter choice.
Conclusion
Whether you choose a simple prefilled kit for around £12.99 or a refillable bundle for around £19.99, the initial cost is tiny compared to what you spend on smoking in a single week.
If you want the absolute easiest transition, start with a Prefilled Pod Kit. If you want the biggest savings, grab a Refillable Pod Kit and take advantage of our bottled e-liquid deals.