In our catalog, 2,335 of 2,938 rated cigars with USD reference prices sit between $5 and $15. The median recorded price is $9.50. The cheapest cigar at the top catalog rating, 4.9, is $10.75. These historical prices help compare records; they are not current retailer quotes.
Best-rated cigar in each price band
2,335 of 2,938 priced, rated cigars sit between $5 and $15. The best rating on this chart, 4.90, starts at $10.75. The cheapest band-winner is $4.25.
top rating (4.90) — $10.75the other 5 bands
- Under $5: Onyx Reserve Mini Belicoso$4.25
- $5–$10: My Father Flor de las Antillas Toro$6.90
- $10–$15: E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel$10.75
- $15–$20: Fuente Fuente OpusX Double Robusto$17.05
- $20–$30: Liga Privada No. 9 Flying Pig$20.83
- $30+: Padron Family Reserve No. 46 Maduro$40.00
What cigars cost, band by band
The USD-priced sample runs from $1.50 to $238.00. Almost half falls between $5 and $10, and another 29% between $10 and $15. A higher recorded price can reflect size, scarcity or release history without a higher catalog rating.
| Band | Cigars (share) | Median price |
|---|---|---|
| Under $5 | 168 (6%) | $4.16 |
| $5–$10 | 1,444 (49%) | $7.99 |
| $10–$15 | 862 (29%) | $11.90 |
| $15–$20 | 253 (9%) | $17.00 |
| $20–$30 | 148 (5%) | $23.00 |
| $30+ | 63 (2%) | $35.65 |
Each band stops one cent short of the next, so $5–$10 means $5.00 to $9.99. Shares are rounded to the whole percent.
Counted with both ends included, $5.00 to $15.00 holds 2,335 records: 2,306 in the two middle rows plus 29 at exactly $15.00. That is about 79% of this USD-priced sample.
What each band rates
| Band | Median rating | Best-rated cigar |
|---|---|---|
| Under $5 | 4.50 | Onyx Reserve Mini Belicoso, 4.7, $4.25 |
| $5–$10 | 4.55 | My Father Flor de las Antillas Toro, 4.8, $6.90 |
| $10–$15 | 4.55 | E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel, 4.9, $10.75 |
| $15–$20 | 4.55 | Fuente Fuente OpusX Double Robusto, 4.85, $17.05 |
| $20–$30 | 4.55 | Liga Privada No. 9 Flying Pig, 4.9, $20.83 |
| $30+ | 4.60 | Padron Family Reserve No. 46 Maduro, 4.9, $40.00 |
Best-rated means the highest catalog rating in the band. Ties go to the cheaper record, then its URL slug. The median rating moves from 4.50 under $5 to 4.60 at $30 and up: a difference of 0.10 on the catalog scale.
The $15–$20 winner is an OpusX. Its $17.05 is a historical catalog reference, not a verified current shelf price. Check the seller before treating any rare-release record as a buying opportunity.
The next cigar in that band is the Padron 1964 Anniversary Series Torpedo Natural at $17.80, with the same 4.85 rating. Our brand comparison explores the differences among rated portfolios.
What extra money buys
Five USD-priced records hold the catalog's top rating, 4.9. Their reference prices range from $10.75 to $40.00.
| Cigar | USD reference price | Origin |
|---|---|---|
| E.P. Carrillo Pledge Prequel | $10.75 | Dominican Republic |
| My Father The Judge Grand Robusto | $13.30 | Nicaragua |
| Liga Privada No. 9 Flying Pig | $20.83 | Nicaragua |
| Liga Privada Feral Flying Pig | $29.17 | Nicaragua |
| Padron Family Reserve No. 46 Maduro | $40.00 | Nicaragua |
The same score appears at $10.75 and $40.00. The Pledge Prequel also leads the robusto list. The Judge leads the My Father list. Both Flying Pigs appear in the Liga Privada comparison.
Across the 2,335 records at $5–$15, the median rating is 4.55. Across the 109 records at $25 or more, it is 4.60. That does not prove the groups taste alike; it shows how little the median catalog score separates them.
Currency and origin are separate questions
This analysis includes only records explicitly priced in USD. It excludes GBP and unknown-currency prices rather than applying a guessed exchange rate. For example, the Partagas Serie P No. 2 record is £38.50, so it does not belong in a $30+ USD band.
Only 11 of the 361 Cuban records have eligible USD prices. That small subset is not a survey of Cuban retail prices. A dollar label also says nothing about where a cigar can be sold or imported.
A USD price does not establish US availability
US Treasury guidance says authorized travelers cannot bring Cuban-origin tobacco into the United States, including purchases made in a third country. Check the applicable rules before planning a purchase.
All six band winners here are non-Cuban. At $30 or more, the highest-rated is the Padron Family Reserve No. 46 Maduro, rated 4.9 at a $40.00 reference price. There are 58 non-Cuban records in that band.
Our Cuban and non-Cuban comparison explains the limited reference sample behind its comparison. The Padron guide compares that brand's lines and sizes.
Which list to read for your budget
| Budget | Page |
|---|---|
| Under $5 | Best cigars under $5 |
| Under $10 | Best cigars under $10 |
| Over $20 | Best premium cigars over $20 |
| Any price | Price index |
Those pages rank cigars. This page counts the USD-priced records, compares their ratings and identifies the leader in each band. The price index counts the complete public catalog; this article uses one record per catalog URL, so its denominator differs slightly.
Interactive
What your budget buys
2,938 priced, rated cigars in our catalog. Set a ceiling up to $50.00; it returns how many you can buy and the best-rated one at that price.
At $9.50 you can buy 1,496 of 2,938 cigars. The best-rated is My Father Flor de las Antillas Toro, rated 4.80 at $6.90. Median rating in that slice: 4.55.
The picker moves in $0.50 steps from $1.00 to $50.00. It counts records at or below your ceiling and names the highest-rated one. There are 63 records at $30 or more and 13 above $50; those higher prices remain in the tables but exceed the slider.
| Ceiling | Records at or under it | Share of USD sample |
|---|---|---|
| $5.00 | 204 | 7% |
| $10.00 | 1,687 | 57% |
| $15.00 | 2,503 | 85% |
| $20.00 | 2,756 | 94% |
| $50.00 | 2,925 | 100% |
From $11.00 up, the picker's answer stops changing. No eligible cigar outrates the $10.75 Pledge Prequel, and the other four at 4.9 cost more.
What these prices can tell you
The figures are per-cigar catalog references, including historical review prices and separately dated retailer observations where available. They are not a single-day retail survey, a stock check or a guarantee that you can assemble a basket at the printed total.
Use the comparisons to choose sizes and rating ranges to investigate. Then check the current single or box price, quantity, shipping and availability. Our ring gauge and length guide helps compare differently sized cigars before comparing their prices.
How much does a cigar cost on average?
The median across 2,938 rated catalog records with USD prices is $9.50. The mean is $11.23, influenced by 3 records above $100. About 79% fall between $5 and $15 inclusive. These are historical catalog reference prices, not today's market average.
How much should I spend on a good cigar?
The $5–$15 reference-price range is a useful starting point: it contains 2,335 records at a median rating of 4.55. The lowest recorded price for a 4.9 is $10.75. Check current offers, and pay more for a size or release you want rather than assuming price guarantees a better rating.
Is a $30 cigar better than a $10 cigar?
The catalog cannot settle personal taste. Its $10–$15 band has a median rating of 4.55, versus 4.60 at $30 or more. Both contain cigars rated 4.9. Those scores are useful comparison inputs, not proof that every cigar in one band is better.
Are these box prices?
No. The figures are normalized per cigar; a recorded box price is divided by its stated quantity. They remain historical references unless a dated retailer observation is identified. Check the total box price and current availability before buying.