THE COST OF VAPINGHi there,California residents are spending big on disposable vapes, both per person and state-wide. A new state-by-state analysis by Compare the Market highlights how state taxes and usage patterns shape the cost of vaping. Key takeaways for California: Per-User Spending in California Average California vaper spends $772 per year on disposable vapes. Calculation assumes two 12 mL devices per month at $32.17 each, with California adding $15.18 tax on vapes State-wide Spending: With 2.59 million e-cigarette users, Californians collectively spend over $2 billion annually on disposable vapes. More information can be found in the release below. Many thanks, Allen California Residents Spend $772 Per Year on Disposable Vapes, $2 Billion Annually State-wide A new state-by-state analysis by Compare the Market shows that the cost of using disposable vapes varies dramatically across the United States, and the total money spent depends heavily on both state taxes and the number of users. Using a standard 12 mL disposable vape priced at $16.99 and assuming moderate use of two devices per month (24 per year), the findings highlight the major impact of state tax policies on consumer spending. Key findings: Highest per-user costs: Residents in high-tax states such as Minnesota and Washington spend up to $837.36 per year, more than twice what people pay in no-tax states like Alabama, Texas, and Florida ($407.76/year). Total population spending: While per-user costs are highest in Minnesota, California leads the country in overall spending, with e-cigarette users spending over $2 billion annually, followed by Texas ($1.04 billion) and New York ($673 million). Moderate states: Illinois ($611/year per user) and New York ($531/year per user) illustrate how moderate tax rates still significantly increase annual costs compared with no-tax states. What's driving the differences? State taxes on vaping products vary widely and are applied in different ways: Some states charge a fixed rate per millilitre of e-liquid Others apply a percentage tax on wholesale or retail price A few states impose no tax at all This creates large disparities in final prices, even when the base product is identical. Environmental impact: Disposable vape waste on the rise The financial cost is only part of the story. Disposable vapes are creating a mounting environmental problem. A recent report by the Alaska Environment Research & Policy Center and U.S. PIRG Education Fund found Americans discarded nearly 5.7 disposable vapes every second in 2023, up from 4.5 per second in 2022, almost half a million devices each day. To read which states vape the most, please visit: https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/health-insurance/features/vaping-reduction-index/ Sources: E-cigarette use: https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/measures/eciguse Vaping stats: https://environmentamerica.org/alaska/center/media-center/new-report-americans-are-throwing-out-more-disposable-vapes-than-ever-as-manufacturers-increase-devices-wastefulness/#:~:text=Most%20vapes%20are%20not%20properly,become%20policy%20across%20the%20nation.%E2%80%9D Vape costs: https://www.elementvape.com/raz-vue-50k-disposable-pods Tax on vape: https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/vaping-taxes/ Methodology Estimates are based on a $16.99 12 mL disposable vape. Taxes were applied using state-specific structures, including per mL rates and percentage-based taxes. Annual costs assume consumption of 24 devices per year. Population-based spending was calculated using state-level e-cigarette user counts. Submitted: 04/19/26 Article By: Sierra Booster |