Cigarettes rose in price on 1 January, for the third time in 21 months.
The price of a packet of 20 cigarettes is now about $14 and a pouch of loose tobacco is about $31.
The Quit Group estimates each smoker costs the economy $139,000 per year in health and other costs.
Chief executive Paula Snowden says the group returns $38 to the economy for every $1 it is funded, but has had no increase since 2007.
She expects the price increase to save the economy up to $73 million.
