Help & Guidance — Purple Haze MK
How Much Do Vapes Cost?
A refillable pod kit costs £10 to £30 upfront with around £25 to £40 per month in ongoing costs. A 600 puff prefilled pod costs £3 to £5. Vaping typically costs 80 percent less than smoking a pack a day — saving most switchers over £4,000 a year.
Vape costs in the UK in 2026 depend on which type of device you choose. A refillable pod kit is the cheapest long-term option: the starter device costs £10 to £30 once, replacement coils cost around £8 to £10 per month and a 10ml bottle of e-liquid costs £3 to £6 and lasts several days to a week. Total monthly running costs come to approximately £25 to £40. A prefilled pod system has lower upfront cost but higher ongoing cost: each 600 puff pod costs £3 to £5 and needs replacing every 1 to 3 days for a typical user. Compared to the UK average cigarette price of around £16 to £18 per pack of 20 in 2026, even the most expensive vaping setup costs a fraction of a pack-a-day habit.
Cost by Device Type
Refillable pod kit
£10 to £30 upfront £25 to £40/month ongoingThe most cost-effective long-term choice. One-off device purchase, then ongoing spend on coils (roughly £8 to £10 per month) and 10ml e-liquid bottles (£3 to £6 each, one to two per week for a typical user). Annual total: approximately £320 to £480 including device.
Prefilled pod kit
£5 to £20 upfront £40 to £90/month ongoingThe device is cheap to buy and requires no coil changes or e-liquid bottles. However, each replacement pod costs £3 to £5 and lasts 1 to 3 days. A typical user spending 200 puffs per day uses 3 to 5 pods per week. Convenient but significantly more expensive than refillable kits over time.
Sub-ohm mod and tank
£25 to £80 upfront £30 to £60/month ongoingHigher initial investment for an advanced device with greater performance and customisation. Ongoing costs include replacement coils (£3 to £5 each, lasting 5 to 10 days) and larger volumes of e-liquid in shortfill format (50ml to 100ml bottles at £10 to £20). Best value for heavy vapers who use significant e-liquid volumes daily.
Premium refillable kit
£30 to £60 upfront £25 to £35/month ongoingBetter build quality, longer device lifespan (2 years or more) and superior coil performance means lower waste and more consistent results. The same ongoing e-liquid and coil costs as a budget kit but spread over a longer device lifespan, making the true per-year cost competitive with or lower than budget devices that need replacing more often.
Cost of Individual Consumables (2026 UK Prices)
| Consumable | Typical price | How long it lasts | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 600 puff prefilled pod | £3 to £5 | 1 to 3 days | £35 to £90 |
| 10ml nicotine salt e-liquid | £3 to £6 | 3 to 7 days | £15 to £30 |
| Replacement coil | £2 to £5 | 1 to 2 weeks | £8 to £12 |
| 50ml shortfill e-liquid | £8 to £15 | 2 to 4 weeks | £8 to £15 |
| 20-a-day cigarettes (comparison) | £16 to £18 per pack | 1 day | £480 to £540 |
Annual cost of a refillable pod kit setup in the UK in 2026 — versus over £5,800 per year for a 20-a-day smoking habit
Estimated saving vs smoking a pack a day — switching to a refillable kit saves most people over £4,000 every year
UK Vaping Products Duty launches — adding £2.20 per 10ml of e-liquid, raising annual costs by around £100 to £200 but vaping still far cheaper than smoking
Annual Savings vs Smoking
10 a day smoker
Save ~£2,500/yearA 10-a-day habit costs approximately £2,700 to £3,000 per year at current UK cigarette prices. A refillable pod kit setup costs £320 to £480 per year. Annual saving: roughly £2,400 to £2,600.
20 a day smoker
Save ~£5,000/yearA pack-a-day habit at £16 to £18 per pack costs over £5,800 per year. Switching to a refillable vape kit costs £320 to £480 annually. Annual saving: approximately £5,000 to £5,500.
30 a day smoker
Save ~£7,500/yearA very heavy smoker spending on one and a half packs daily pays over £8,500 per year. Even using a more expensive vaping setup at £600 per year, the annual saving exceeds £7,500.
For the best value refillable kits, pods and e-liquids in Milton Keynes, visit Purple Haze MK at Stall 109, Milton Keynes Market.
From October 2026 the UK government will introduce a Vaping Products Duty of £2.20 per 10ml of e-liquid (plus 20% VAT on top). This will add approximately £100 to £200 per year to the cost of a typical refillable vaping setup. Even after this duty, vaping with a refillable kit will remain more than six times cheaper than a 10-a-day smoking habit. The duty does not apply to devices or coils — only to e-liquid volume.
Part of Our Guide
Help & Guidance Centre
This article is part of the Purple Haze MK Help and Guidance Centre, covering vaping devices, costs and practical guidance. Browse all topics in the Help and Guidance Centre for clear, up-to-date information.
For competitive prices on devices, coils and e-liquids, visit the Purple Haze MK Help and Guidance Centre.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to vape in the UK?
A refillable pod kit with 10ml nicotine salt e-liquid bottles is consistently the cheapest ongoing option. A budget refillable kit costs £10 to £15 upfront. E-liquid at £3 to £4 per 10ml provides 2,000 to 4,000 puffs. Coils at £2 to £3 each last one to two weeks. Total monthly spend for a moderate user is typically £20 to £35. Prefilled pod systems and multiple-pod devices cost more per puff despite lower device prices.
Are premium vapes worth the extra cost?
Yes, generally. A premium refillable kit at £30 to £50 typically lasts two or more years versus six to twelve months for a budget device at £10 to £15. The per-year device cost often works out similar. Premium devices also deliver better flavour consistency, more reliable coil performance and better battery management, which can indirectly reduce coil consumption and improve the experience. If budget is tight, a mid-range kit from a reputable brand at £20 to £30 offers a good balance.
Will the vape tax in October 2026 make vaping expensive?
The Vaping Products Duty launching in October 2026 adds £2.20 per 10ml of e-liquid before VAT. For a typical refillable vape user consuming two 10ml bottles per week, this adds approximately £22 per month or £264 per year to e-liquid costs. The total annual cost of refillable vaping after the duty is approximately £480 to £600 — still more than six times cheaper than a 20-a-day smoking habit at current cigarette prices.
Can I get a free vape kit on the NHS?
Through the government's Swap to Stop scheme, adult smokers in England can receive a free vape starter kit through local stop smoking services. Eligibility varies by local authority: pregnant smokers, those with mental health conditions and people in social housing are often prioritised. Contact your local stop smoking service or visit the NHS Better Health Quit Smoking pages for current availability in your area.
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For more vaping guidance, visit the Purple Haze MK Help and Guidance Centre.
Vaping on a Budget in Milton Keynes
Best Value Kits at Purple Haze MK
Looking for the best value refillable kit or the most affordable pods? Visit us at Stall 109, Milton Keynes Market and we will help you find the right setup for your budget.