Cigarette Prices by State 2026

A pack of cigarettes costs an average of $10.15 in the United States in 2026, though prices vary significantly by state.

Cigarette prices range from $8.01 in Missouri to $14.83 in New York, driven primarily by differences in state tobacco taxes.

Missouri is the cheapest state to buy cigarettes at $8.01 per pack. The three cheapest states are South Carolina ($8.43), Alabama ($8.34), and Missouri ($8.01).

States with the cheapest cigarettes typically have the lowest tobacco tax rates, often below $1 per pack. Smoking rates tend to be higher in states where cigarettes are cheaper.

New York has the most expensive cigarettes at $14.83 per pack. The three most expensive states are New York ($14.83), District of Columbia ($14.03), and Rhode Island ($13.72).

High cigarette prices are driven by state tobacco taxes, which can exceed $4 per pack and are designed to discourage smoking and fund public health programs.

CDC estimates that smoking and secondhand smoke exposure cause more than 480,000 U.S. deaths each year. Smoking also creates substantial healthcare costs and lost productivity (as much as $300 billion a year by one estimate) beyond what smokers pay at the checkout.

CDC reports that adult cigarette smoking has declined over recent decades. That long-term health trend provides context for this price comparison, but it is not measured by the price table.