The cost of cocaine in the US averages $120 per gram, though prices may vary depending on location, purity, and local law enforcement. Read here for more about the cost of cocaine by weight, prices around the world, what affects these costs, and how cocaine prices affect drug use rates.
| Measurement | Weight in grams | Cost in U.S. dollars |
|---|---|---|
| One gram of cocaine | 1g | $120 - $200 |
| 8-ball of cocaine (an eighth of an ounce) | 3.5g | $300 (average) |
| One ounce of cocaine or a zip of cocaine | 28.3g | $1,100 - $2000 |
| One kilo of cocaine | 1000g | $28,000 (average) |
- Cocaine is usually sold in gram weights. In the US, a single gram costs $120 and an 8-ball is priced at $300 on average. The cost of cocaine can vary dramatically depending on several factors including location, state law, and purity.
- Higher prices of cocaine are associated with lower levels of consumption in users.
- Cocaine is rising to become one of the top drugs that can cause unintentional overdose deaths. Treatment options are available if you or someone you know needs help with cocaine addiction.
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The price of cocaine by weight
Cocaine amounts are not always referred to by weight when being sold. Occasionally, street slang is used to reference amounts of cocaine to confuse law officials and as part of the nomenclature around drugs. Below are the typical measurement units cocaine is sold in, their average prices in the country, and their corresponding slang.
The price of a gram of cocaine
The most common street price for a gram of cocaine in the US is around $120.[1] However, this can vary drastically by state, such as how close to cocaine manufacturers it is bought (a gram of cocaine in Colombia costs as little as $4), or how close to heavily populated urban areas. Some areas report that cocaine can cost as much as $200 per gram.
Crack cocaine is more regularly abused in lower-income areas as crack has a lower average price per gram than cocaine.
The price of an "8 ball" of cocaine
Most reports suggest that an 8-ball of cocaine will cost between $120 and $300.
An 8-ball is a weight measurement equal to 3.5 grams, or an 8th of an ounce. This is typically used for drugs such as cocaine and meth.
Selling drugs such as cocaine, crack, and heroin in 8-ball weights has been popular since the 1970s as many drug users prefer to have larger quantities of the drug and most dealers will offer a special price for 8-balls.
The price of a "zip" of cocaine
A zip of cocaine may cost as little as $450 in some areas and around $1,200-$2,000 for purer cocaine.
A zip also called a 'zone', is a 1-ounce measurement, equivalent to 28 grams. The term 'zip' originates from large zip lock bags being used when selling larger amounts of drugs.
The price of a kilo of cocaine
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime puts the average price of a kilo of cocaine in the US at $28,000, though other estimates suggest it is as high as $70,000.
As with the price of a gram of cocaine, the cost of a kilo changes depending on the area it is bought in, even within the same state. For example in Massachusetts, one kilo of cocaine in Boston usually costs between $29,000 and $39,000, $31,000 and $38,000 in Springfield and around $30,000 to $36,500 in Worcester.
The cost of cocaine around the world
The average price for cocaine varies per country. The US average at $120 is higher in comparison to many other countries. This follows the global trend among developed nations outside of Europe where cocaine costs a premium price, such as in Australia or China.[1]
Regions with stricter drug regulations and harder-to-reach trafficking ports typically have higher prices. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, with average prices of $286 and $266 per gram respectively, have the highest cocaine street value worldwide due to their extremely strict drug control laws.
In comparison, with Bolivia as a leading producer and exporter of cocaine, prices are largely lower in the country at $6 per gram. Portugal has a considerably lower price ($40 per gram) due in part to the country's substantial decriminalization of class A (Schedule I) substances like cocaine.[4]
What affects the price of cocaine?
As with all illegal drugs, there are a variety of factors that affect the cost of cocaine. Some of them include the purity of the drug, the type of cocaine being purchased, the socioeconomic status of the area, the popularity of the substance, and the presence of crime.
Purity of cocaine
Cocaine can be mixed with a variety of other substances that can cause different side effects and feelings. Most of these combinations make the drug even more dangerous to take. For example, mixing cocaine with other stimulants like meth greatly increases the risk of overdose. These dangerous drug combinations also tend to increase prices. Crack cocaine, which tends to be full of impurities, is far cheaper than powder cocaine.
Type of cocaine
While most users seek to purchase white powder cocaine, there are actually many types of cocaine available, though some may not be easy to acquire. Cocaine variants such as brown cocaine (brown-brown) are not normally sold in the US and may therefore come at a steep price.
Availability of cocaine
Illicit drug production and distribution is an illegal activity that costs the government billions of dollars per year in trying to control it. Increased law enforcement tends to force drug manufacturers to limit their production, making the sale of substances like cocaine riskier and therefore higher.
Location
As with availability, where drugs are produced dictates their price. Cocaine tends to be produced in South America as that is where the materials for making it originate. It is then trafficked into North America, most commonly through drug cartels in Mexico. This means states in this area tend to have more access to the substance. The same is also true of larger cities, where crime rates and drug dealing tend to be higher, making the substance more readily obtainable.[2] Read here to learn more about how cocaine is made and why it affects cost.
How street prices affect cocaine use rates
Some research indicates that fluctuations in cocaine prices influence user consumption patterns. When cocaine prices are higher in specific regions or time periods, there tends to be a decrease in overall consumption rates. Conversely, lower prices are typically linked to increased rates of usage.[5][6]
There were over 284 million people recorded globally to have used illicit substances in 2020, of which 21 million used cocaine, according to the latest version of the United Nations World Drug Report. The global use of cocaine has risen in the past decade (despite a slight decrease during COVID-19) with global production and new shipping routes seeing purity increasing with prices decreasing across mainland Europe and beyond. These findings underscore the significance of monitoring street prices to understand consumption trends and their further impact on addiction rates.
Understanding the costs of cocaine addiction
Cocaine addiction can be incredibly expensive. For example, a person with a severe cocaine addiction can spend $170,000 per year on buying the drug. This can lead to heavy financial losses and crippling debt.
The financial cost is not the biggest loss a person with cocaine addiction faces, however. As with all forms of substance use disorder, cocaine addiction greatly impacts health (both mental and physical), relationships, family, work, education, and just about all areas of life. In recent years, cocaine has become one of the top substances causing unintentional overdose deaths.[7]
Visit here for more information on the cost of addiction.
Treatment options for cocaine addiction
Addiction treatment centers can offer help and support for those suffering from all types of substance use disorders, including cocaine. If you or someone you care about is suffering from addiction, contact a treatment provider near you today.
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