Coffee vs. Cigarettes: Which Costs You More Money?
I’m glad I don’t smoke cigarettes. In my 29 years, I haven’t smoked even one. My wallet is very happy about that 🙂
Coffee, however, is a different story.
So today, I decided to compare coffee and cigarettes. I wanted to see which habit costs more money. Health-wise, cigarettes clearly lose. But what about finances?
Coffee and Cigarettes: Major Money Drains
I found a Bankrate Top 10 Money Drains list from a few years ago. Surprisingly, coffee and cigarettes ranked in the top two spots. They even beat alcohol, which came in at number three.
That made this comparison even more interesting.
The Cost of Cigarettes
On average, a pack of cigarettes costs about $5. Most smokers go through one pack per day.
That adds up quickly:
$35 per week
$140 per month
$1,680 per year
That number alone makes me happy I never started smoking.
I once tweeted about never smoking and learned many others don’t smoke either. That was refreshing to see.
The Cost of Coffee
Coffee costs less, but it still adds up.
A regular cup of coffee costs around $1.30. If you drink one cup a day, that’s about $440 per year.
Starbucks changes the story. A $3 drink every day can cost close to $1,000 per year. Even skipping a few days brings the total to around $800 annually.
That’s a lot of caffeine—and cash.
The Cost of Coffee and Cigarettes Together
Now let’s combine both habits.
Cigarettes: $1,680 per year
Coffee (non-Starbucks): $440 per year
Total: $2,100 per year
That’s a serious drain on your money.
Which Habit Is Worse Financially?
Cigarettes cost more by a wide margin. Even cutting smoking in half still costs more than daily coffee.
There’s also addiction to consider. Coffee habits feel strong, but nicotine addiction is much harder to break. Smokers spend more money and struggle more to quit.
Final Thoughts
If you smoke, does $1,680 per year sound accurate? Many people never calculate the real cost.
You can try the smoking cost calculator on Cancer.org to see your actual numbers. And if you’re trying to quit, you have support—financially and otherwise.
Your future self (and wallet) will thank you.
Source: Budgets Are Sexy
