am pm cigarette prices aren't just about the product. They're about taxes. Across countries, governments heavily tax tobacco to reduce consumption, which is why prices vary so widely. What's interesting here is the PPP-adjusted ARCO - Updated July 2026

Even when making the switch to vaping, the savings are dramatic

Rates of suicide are also higher

and may or may not be generalizable to other countries due to the potential impact of important influences, such as cultural norms, smoking policies, and taxes on smoking behaviors outside of the U.S

it will probably take five to 10 years to start to see whether e-cigarettes are truly as safe as some people believe them to be. For more medical news, follow me on Twitter @LATkarenkaplan and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook.

The evaluation was based on these criteria: Filter performance: Is the smoke pleasant or scratchy