That old saying, “You get what you pay for,” doesn’t really apply to the world of cigars. Sure, there are some cheap cigars that are made poorly and taste like paper, but there are some seriously overpriced cigars that aren’t worth the squeeze, either. With the advent of sites like Cigarbid or Cigars International’s Make Me an Offer , you can get some fantastic deals, too. Not to mention all of the bundle cigars and branded labels that are available for a great price, like Drew Estate's Factory Smokes , CI Knock-Offs, JR Alternatives , and beyond. But if you’re in the market for some good, cheap sticks that won’t break the bank, you’re in the right place. I’ve put together a list of the best cigars under $5 that I’ve tried and tested.
The best cigars $5 and under tried and tested
Full disclosure: I don’t usually dabble with much below $5. I would recommend the $8 to $10 range because you’ll find some incredibly flavorful smokes in there. However, if you want to go even cheaper, these are worth a try.
This list is arranged in order of price, not best to worst.
Drew Estate Factory Smokes ~ $2 – $3
- Strength: Medium
- Best Size: Toro or Churchill
Drew Estate’s Factory Smokes series is an affordable label available in various formats, including Connecticut, Maduro, and Sweets versions. They’re perfect for yardwork, any sort of busywork, or any time you’d want a value-added but reasonable smoke. You could even smoke them as a daily, they’re pretty darn good. My Factory label of choice is the Maduro, but they’re all tasty. Moreover, the normal price is already reasonable, but when there are deals and discounts, things get really spicy.
Famous 365 ~ $2 – $3
- Strength: Medium
- Best Size: Toro or Churchill
These budget-friendly smokes from Famous Smoke Shop are way better than they have any right to be. They’re handcrafted in Honduras, using Nicaraguan Habano wrappers. Light one up, and you’re in for a surprise bomb of flavor. I came away impressed, if you couldn’t already tell, and I’m already planning to smoke more.
Odyssey Habano ~ $2 – $3
- Strength: Medium
- Best Size: Robusto
All of Odyssey's blends are cheap, from the Connecticut to the Maduro or Coffee labels. But in this case, cheap definitely does not mean “bad cigar;” quite the opposite. They’re well-constructed, flavorful and work perfectly as an everyday smoke. My recommendation is the Habano, a medium-bodied, flavor-packed Nicaraguan delight.
Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte (Legacy) ~$4 – $5
- Strength: Full-bodied
- Best Size: Robusto
It’s worth noting up front that there is a new blend of the Sancho Panza Extra Fuerte that is a little more expensive than the normal price. The new version is good, but the legacy blend earned a 91 rating, which tells you it’s pretty tasty for a cheap cigar. Most retailers still have the legacy blend available, although I’m not sure for how long. If you can get some, it’s a good stick for the standard price, let alone the huge discount you can get these days.
Tatiana Classic (various flavors) ~ $5
- Strength: Mellow to mild
- Best Size: Various
Tatiana Classic series cigars are flavored and come in a wide variety of options like Sweet Euphoria (chocolate), Fusion Frenzy (passion fruit), Caribbean Chill (Mojito), Cognac, and Rum. If you enjoy flavored cigars, you’ll like pretty much any one of the brand’s smokes. Most are blended in a particular flavor. For example, Night Cap tastes remarkably like almonds. They’re priced well normally, but you can usually find a good deal available, meaning they’ll cost even less.
Chillin Moose ~ $5
- Strength: Mild to Medium
- Best Size: Robusto
Featuring a multi-country blend with Dominican, Mexican, Nicaraguan and USA tobacco, this smoke offers some pretty unique flavors. To describe a few, cocoa, raisins, earth, spice, hay, citrus, and wet tree bark are fairly prominent throughout. The brand also makes some others like Shady Moose, Bull Moose and Chillin Moose Too, which I have yet to try. The core line is a great start.
Arturo Fuente Especiales ~ $5
- Strength: Medium
- Best Size: Cazadores (Toro)
I’m sure most of you aren’t expecting to see a Fuente on this list, but here it is. I would not put the Especiales down as one of the best cigars in the Arturo Fuente lineup, but it’s sweet, creamy, and worth the price. It’s a solid medium smoke that will deliver lots of nuttiness, leather, spice, cedar and wood. I paired it with some dark coffee in the afternoon, and it was a lovely experience.
More budget-friendly alternatives
If you’re willing to spend a little more, here are more recommendations to consider:
JR Alternatives (Various) ~ $3 – $5
JR Alternatives are made in a variety of blends and available at a generous selection of budget-friendly price points. They’re designed to mimic some of the bigger, more expensive cigar options on the market, with matchups for Montecristo, Partagas, La Gloria Cubana, Macanudo, Hoyo, and more. If you know what you like already, you can browse the entire Alternatives catalog using that brand or blend specifically. If you’re just perusing, they’re clearly labeled, so you can still find something you like quickly. They work best as alternatives to your everyday or regular smokes, especially if the originals are either out of stock or out of your price range.
JFR Connecticut or Corojo ~8
- Strength: Mellow to Medium (Corojo), Medium to Full-bodied (Connecticut and Maduro)
- Best Size: Super Toro and Titan
The initial buy-in for JFR bundles seems high until you realize you get 50 cigars per bundle, nearly double the amount in a normal box of cigars. They come in three types: Connecticut, Corojo, and Maduro. The Connecticut is creamy and delicious, the Corojo is nutty and earthy, and the Maduro is packed with dark, chocolatey flavors. You can’t go wrong with any of them, but I would recommend the Connecticut or Corojo as mainstays in any humidor. In case you weren’t aware, JFR is an Aganorsa Leaf brand.
Check Connecticut Price Check Corojo Price Check Maduro Price
Get to know our expert
Why should you listen to me? It’s a valid question. I smoke cigars all the time, and I have many recommendations and plenty of advice to share with others. But none of those things qualify me as an expert. Instead, it’s the years of experience, the time I’ve invested in the world of cigars, the excellent connections I’ve made with cigar makers and sellers, and the vast wealth of knowledge I’ve gained during that time. I know what goes into an excellent cigar, and I’ve certainly earned the right to recommend some to others, whether you’re a beginner and this is your first time smoking or have your own cabinet humidor stocked and maintained. Instead of waxing poetic, I’d rather let my recommendations speak for me.
