Summary
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A pack of cigarettes costs $8.00 in the United States on average.
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New York is the most expensive state to buy cigarettes; A pack of cigarettes costs $11.96 on average.
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A pack of cigarettes is only $6.11 in Missouri, making Missouri the cheapest state to buy cigarettes.
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Missouri has the lowest tobacco tax of any state by far, of only $0.17 per pack of cigarettes.
- Both New York and Connecticut have tobacco tax of $4.35 a pack, the highest in the nation.
The average pack of cigarettes costs $8.00. This adds up to a substantial $2,190 a year for the typical smoker.
Yet for many smokers, cigarettes are an addiction they will buy regardless of price- and depending on where they live price can vary dramatically. For example, smokers in the most expensive state New York pay $11.96, while smokers in the cheapest state Missouri pay only $6.11 for the same pack.
We found the cheapest- and most expensive- states for cigarettes. Keep reading to see a breakdown of cigarette costs in all 50 states, as well as the amount of taxes.
States With The Most Expensive Cigarettes
- New York
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Alaska
- Hawaii
- Maryland
- Illinois
- Washington
New York is the most expensive state to buy a pack of cigarettes at a hefty $11.96 a pack. Other Northeastern states follow suit, making up 5 of the 10 most expensive states to buy cigarettes. Hawaii and Alaska, two notoriously expensive states to buy goods, also make the list.
States With The Cheapest Cigarettes
- Missouri
- Georgia
- North Dakota
- North Carolina
- Mississippi
- Idaho
- South Carolina
- Nebraska
- Alabama
- Wyoming
Unsurprisingly, Missouri is the cheapest state to buy cigarettes. The astoundingly low tobacco tax of only $0.17 per pack of cigarettes undoubtedly helps achieve the average price of $6.11 a pack.
Methodology
This one was fairly simple. We simply took the average retail price from Tobacco Free Kids, ranking each state by cost. The higher the cost, the more expensive the state.
To obtain the state excise tobacco taxes displayed on the table below, we combed official state tax documents, the USDA, and media sources to locate the most recent tobacco tax.
From there we simply combined the two numbers- The higher the price, the more expensive cigarettes are in that state.
Cigarette Prices By State
| Rank | State | Cost | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $11.96 | $4.35 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $11.71 | $4.25 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $11.60 | $4.35 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $11.11 | $3.51 |
| 5 | Minnesota | $10.49 | $3.04 |
| 6 | Alaska | $10.46 | $2.00 |
| 7 | Hawaii | $10.41 | $3.20 |
| 8 | Maryland | $10.26 | $3.75 |
| 9 | Illinois | $10.16 | $2.98 |
| 10 | Washington | $10.14 | $3.03 |
| 11 | Vermont | $10.12 | $3.08 |
| 12 | California | $9.63 | $2.87 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $9.54 | $2.60 |
| 14 | Oregon | $9.37 | $3.33 |
| 15 | New Jersey | $9.22 | $2.70 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | $8.85 | $2.52 |
| 17 | Maine | $8.58 | $2.00 |
| 18 | Arizona | $8.55 | $2.00 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $8.47 | $2.00 |
| 20 | Utah | $8.33 | $1.70 |
| 21 | Michigan | $8.27 | $2.00 |
| 21 | Nevada | $8.27 | $1.80 |
| 23 | Colorado | $7.99 | $1.94 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $7.99 | $1.53 |
| 25 | Ohio | $7.93 | $1.60 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $7.93 | $2.03 |
| 27 | Delaware | $7.80 | $2.10 |
| 28 | Montana | $7.77 | $1.70 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $7.73 | $1.78 |
| 30 | Florida | $7.63 | $1.34 |
| 31 | Texas | $7.62 | $1.41 |
| 32 | Kansas | $7.49 | $1.29 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $7.43 | $1.15 |
| 33 | Iowa | $7.43 | $1.36 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $7.33 | $1.20 |
| 36 | Virginia | $7.23 | $0.60 |
| 37 | Indiana | $7.12 | $1.00 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $7.00 | $1.08 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $6.94 | $0.62 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $6.93 | $1.10 |
| 41 | Alabama | $6.85 | $0.68 |
| 41 | Wyoming | $6.85 | $0.60 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $6.84 | $0.64 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $6.82 | $0.57 |
| 45 | Idaho | $6.79 | $0.57 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $6.78 | $0.68 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $6.58 | $0.45 |
| 48 | North Dakota | $6.55 | $0.44 |
| 49 | Georgia | $6.39 | $0.37 |
| 50 | Missouri | $6.11 | $0.17 |
Cigarette Prices FAQ
How much does a pack of cigarettes cost
A pack of cigarettes costs $8.00 in the United States on average. However, state taxes, brand, and other factors will ultimately determine what cost you pay. The price range can vary dramatically, with the cheapest state (Missouri) having an average cost of $6.11 while the most expensive state (New York) has an average cost per pack of $11.96.
What is the cheapest state to buy cigarettes?
A pack of cigarettes is only $6.11 in Missouri, making Missouri the cheapest state to buy cigarettes. Missouri’s low cost is partially due to having a tobacco tax of only $0.17.
What state has highest cigarette prices?
New York is the most expensive state to buy cigarettes with an averages price of $11.96 a pack. New York’s tobacco tax of $4.35 per pack contributes to the high cost.
How much is a pack of cigarettes in New York?
New York is the most expensive state to buy cigarettes; A pack of cigarettes costs $11.96 on average in the state of New York.
How much is a pack of cigarettes in California?
A pack of cigarettes costs $9.63 in California, making California the 12th most expensive state to buy cigarettes. California has a tobacco tax of $2.87 per pack.
How much are cigarettes in Florida?
On average, a pack of cigarettes costs $7.63 in Florida. Florida is the 30th most expensive state to buy cigarettes.