How Much is Tobacco in Portugal? Your Guide to Saving Money on Cigarettes

Cigarettes in Portugal cost between €4.90 and €6.00 for a pack of 20, depending on the brand and where you buy. That is cheaper than the UK, where a pack of 20 typically costs between £16.50 and £19.00 in 2026. Head to the Algarve or Lisbon and you will feel the difference at the till.

What do specific brands cost in Portugal?

Based on user reports from the Albufeira Holidays Facebook group, a 20-pack of Marlboro soft cigarettes was reported at around €4.90 in Portugal before the January 2026 duty increase; current prices may be slightly higher. JPS comes in at roughly €5.50 for the same pack size. Expatistan, which tracks cost-of-living data, listed a single pack of Marlboro in Lisbon at around €6.00; this figure may not yet reflect the January 2026 duty increase, so prices shift a little by location and retailer.

As one traveller put it in the Albufeira Holidays group: "For 20 cigarettes you pay between €4.90 (Marlboro soft) and €5.50 (JPS) but depends on which brand you want." Budget brands sold locally often come in below €4.90, while premium or less common imports can push closer to €7. Note that Portugal raised its tobacco excise duty in January 2026, adding €0.20-€0.50 per pack. Prices quoted here reflect post-increase levels; always check current shelf prices on arrival.

How much does a carton of 200 cigarettes cost in the Algarve?

A carton of 200 cigarettes from an international brand was reported at between €35 and €39 in the Algarve; following Portugal's January 2026 duty increase, prices may now be slightly higher, according to TripAdvisor forum users. That works out to roughly €3.50 to €3.90 per pack of 20, a solid saving over buying packs individually. One forum contributor put it simply: "Portugal is a little cheaper. Most cartons of 200 international brand cigs will be around €35-€39."

A carton makes sense if you are staying for a week or more and know you will smoke through it. Keep the duty-free allowance rules in mind before you pack them for the flight home (more on that below).

Is Portugal cheaper for cigarettes than Spain?

Yes, slightly. Users in the Albufeira Holidays Facebook group have compared both countries directly and consistently describe Portugal as a little cheaper than Spain. The gap is not dramatic, but on a carton of 200 you might save €3 to €5 over buying the same brands across the border. For most holiday smokers, both countries are considerably cheaper than the UK.

Lisbon versus the Algarve: does the region matter?

There is some regional variation. Expatistan puts a Marlboro pack in Lisbon at €6.00, while the Albufeira data suggests €4.90 for the same brand in the Algarve. Tourist-heavy areas and airport shops tend to charge more. Local tabacarias (tobacconists) and supermarkets away from the main resort strips usually offer better prices than kiosks on the seafront.

Where is the cheapest place to buy cigarettes in Portugal?

Supermarkets and tabacarias are your best options. Chains such as Continente and Pingo Doce stock cigarettes at standard shelf prices, and a tabacaria in a residential neighbourhood will usually beat a kiosk in a tourist square. Faro Airport has duty-free tobacco on departure, which can be competitive, though airport prices vary and are not always the lowest you will find.

Avoid buying from beach vendors or unlicensed sellers. The product is unverified and, in some cases, counterfeit tobacco has turned up in tourist areas across southern Europe.

How many cigarettes can you bring back to the UK from Portugal?

As of May 2026, UK customs rules allow you to bring back 200 cigarettes (one carton) from Portugal without paying UK duty or tax, provided they are for personal use. That is the standard personal allowance for tobacco products from non-EU countries, which Portugal now is for UK travellers post-Brexit. Bringing back more than 200 cigarettes does not automatically mean seizure, but HMRC can ask you to demonstrate the goods are for personal use, and large quantities are likely to attract duty.

If you are buying a carton at €35 to €39 and bringing it home, you are still paying a fraction of what the same 200 cigarettes would cost at a UK supermarket or newsagent in 2026.

For 20 cigarrets you pay between 4.90€ ( Marlboro soft ) and 5,50 ( JPS) but depends on which brand you want.

Portugal is a little cheaper. Most cartons of 200 international brand cigs will be around €35 - 39 Euro.

Tags: tobacco-pricesportugal-travelcigarette-costsalgarvemarlboroduty-increase