Which tobacco product will be more expensive and how much more expensive

Cigarettes are likely to become significantly more expensive in Germany in the coming years. With the votes of the coalition factions from the Union and the SPD, the Bundestag voted for an amendment to the law that would increase the tobacco tax. In the afternoon, the Federal Council finally gave the green light for the planned increase. The state chamber decided not to refer the law to the mediation committee, so that it can now come into force at the turn of the year.

It provides for an increase in four steps - on January 1st of each year from 2027 to 2030. What is planned for which tobacco products?

Cigarettes

Cigarettes are currently taxed at 20.3 cents per piece. In January 2027 the value initially rises to 22.2 cents, in January 2028 to 24.2 cents, in January 2029 to 26.4 cents and finally in January 2030 to 28.8 cents per piece.

For box prices, this means: A box of 20 cigarettes currently costs an average of 8.05 euros. As an interim step, 8.77 euros will be due next year, then 9.56 euros in 2028 and 10.42 euros in 2029, before 11.36 euros will be due in 2030.

Fine cut

Fine-cut cigarettes - i.e. rolling your own cigarettes - are also becoming significantly more expensive than before. Here the tax rate will gradually increase from the current 100.80 euros per kilogram to 210.50 in January 2030.

Cigars, cigarillos, shisha tobacco

New tax rates also apply to cigars, cigarillos, pipe tobacco and hookah tobacco.

Liquids for e-cigarettes

“Vaping” via e-cigarette will also become more expensive from next year onwards: the tax will initially rise to 38 cents per milliliter in January and then in further steps to 44 cents in January 2030.