Cost/Pricing
Cigarette Prices by State 2026
United States $10.15
4.21%
US Average The average cost of a pack of cigarettes across all states.
New York $14.83
Highest States with the highest cigarette prices typically have tobacco taxes exceeding $3 per pack and often have additional local taxes in major cities.
Missouri $8.01
Lowest States with the lowest cigarette prices have minimal tobacco taxes and generally lack additional local cigarette taxes.
Total Average Price (per pack)
$8.00
$9.00
$10.00
$11.00
$12.00
$13.00
$14.00
$15.00
$14.83 per pack
$14.03 per pack
$13.72 per pack
$13.63 per pack
$13.47 per pack
$13.28 per pack
States Ranked by Cigarette Prices
State | Total Average Price 2026 (per pack)↓ | State Excise Tax 2026 (per pack) | State Sales Tax 2026 (per pack) | Total State Taxes 2026 (per pack) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | New York | $14.83 | $5.35 | 0.57% | $5.92 |
 | District of Columbia | $14.03 | $4.50 | 0.57% | $5.07 |
 | Rhode Island | $13.72 | $4.50 | 0.9% | $5.40 |
 | Connecticut | $13.63 | $4.35 | 0.81% | $5.16 |
 | Maryland | $13.47 | $5.00 | 0.76% | $5.76 |
 | Massachusetts | $13.28 | $3.51 | 0.78% | $4.29 |
 | Hawaii | $13.09 | $3.60 | 0.5% | $4.10 |
 | Alaska | $12.99 | $2.00 | $2.00 | |
 | Minnesota | $12.90 | $3.04 | 0.84% | $3.88 |
 | Vermont | $12.48 | $3.08 | 0.71% | $3.79 |
 | Illinois | $12.37 | $2.98 | 0.73% | $3.71 |
 | Washington | $12.29 | $3.02 | 0.75% | $3.78 |
 | Maine | $12.19 | $3.50 | 0.64% | $4.14 |
 | Pennsylvania | $11.85 | $2.60 | 0.67% | $3.27 |
 | California | $11.78 | $2.87 | 0.9% | $3.77 |
 | New Jersey | $11.66 | $3.00 | 0.72% | $3.72 |
 | Oregon | $11.41 | $3.33 | $3.33 | |
 | Indiana | $11.28 | $3.00 | 0.74% | $3.73 |
 | Arizona | $11.10 | $2.00 | 0.59% | $2.59 |
 | New Mexico | $10.90 | $2.00 | 0.54% | $2.54 |
 | Wisconsin | $10.77 | $2.52 | 0.51% | $3.03 |
 | Michigan | $10.35 | $2.00 | 0.59% | $2.59 |
 | Nevada | $10.31 | $1.80 | 0.66% | $2.46 |
 | Colorado | $10.28 | $2.24 | 0.29% | $2.53 |
 | Utah | $10.25 | $1.70 | 0.59% | $2.29 |
 | Texas | $10.04 | $1.41 | 0.59% | $2.00 |
 | Iowa | $9.95 | $1.36 | 0.56% | $1.92 |
 | Delaware | $9.94 | $2.10 | $2.10 | |
 | Ohio | $9.94 | $1.60 | 0.61% | $2.21 |
 | South Dakota | $9.94 | $1.53 | 0.4% | $1.93 |
 | Oklahoma | $9.89 | $2.03 | $2.03 | |
 | Kansas | $9.73 | $1.29 | 0.59% | $1.88 |
 | Montana | $9.73 | $1.70 | $1.70 | |
 | Virginia | $9.63 | $0.60 | 0.48% | $1.08 |
 | New Hampshire | $9.42 | $1.78 | $1.78 | |
 | Arkansas | $9.30 | $1.15 | 0.57% | $1.72 |
 | Florida | $9.29 | $1.34 | 0.53% | $1.87 |
 | Tennessee | $9.21 | $0.62 | 0.72% | $1.34 |
 | West Virginia | $9.19 | $1.20 | 0.52% | $1.72 |
 | Louisiana | $9.15 | $1.08 | 0.44% | $1.52 |
 | Kentucky | $9.01 | $1.10 | 0.51% | $1.61 |
 | Nebraska | $8.99 | $0.64 | 0.47% | $1.11 |
 | Georgia | $8.86 | $0.37 | 0.56% | $0.93 |
 | Wyoming | $8.79 | $0.60 | 0.34% | $0.94 |
 | Idaho | $8.75 | $0.57 | 0.5% | $1.07 |
 | North Carolina | $8.75 | $0.45 | 0.55% | $1.00 |
 | North Dakota | $8.71 | $0.44 | 0.41% | $0.85 |
 | Mississippi | $8.58 | $0.68 | 0.56% | $1.24 |
 | South Carolina | $8.43 | $0.57 | 0.48% | $1.05 |
 | Alabama | $8.34 | $0.68 | 0.52% | $2.57 |
 | Missouri | $8.01 | $0.17 | 0.35% | $0.52 |
- Total State Taxes per Pack includes both excise taxes and state sales taxes.
- Prices shown are averages as of January 6, 2026. Cigarette prices may change at any time and may vary significantly depending upon mulitple factors, including the locality, brand of cigarette, and specific pricing policies of the seller.
Key Findings
How Much Does a Pack of Cigarettes Cost?
-
A pack of cigarettes costs an average of $10.15 in the United States in 2026, though prices vary significantly by state.
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Cigarette prices range from $8.01 in Missouri to $14.83 in New York, driven primarily by differences in state tobacco taxes.
Cheapest State to Buy Cigarettes
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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).
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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.
Most Expensive State for Cigarettes
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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).
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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.
Health Costs of Smoking
-
Smoking contributes to over 480,000 deaths annually in the United States and costs the country more than $300 billion each year in healthcare expenses and lost productivity.
-
The healthcare costs of smoking average $17.26 per pack nationwide. Approximately 14% of U.S. adults smoke regularly, with rates declining over recent decades.
United States Trend Line
Historical Cigarette Price Trends
Cigarette prices have risen steadily over the past decade, driven by increases in state tobacco taxes and continued upward pressure from inflation.
States Ranked by Cigarette Prices
State Comparison
Cigarette prices vary dramatically across states, with the most expensive states charging nearly twice as much as the cheapest. State tobacco taxes drive most of this variation, ranging from as low as $0.17 per pack to over $4.00 per pack. High-tax states are typically concentrated in the Northeast and West Coast, while low-tax states are concentrated in the South and Great Plains.
Definitions & Methodology
What Determines Cigarette Prices? Cigarette prices are determined by three factors: the wholesale cost from tobacco companies, federal excise tax ($1.01 per pack), and state tobacco taxes that range from $0.17 to over $4.00 per pack. Some cities and counties also add local tobacco taxes.
How Much Does a Carton of Cigarettes Cost? A carton of cigarettes contains 10 packs (200 cigarettes total) and costs an average of $80 nationwide. Carton prices range from approximately $61 in low-tax states to $120 in high-tax states.
Why Are Cigarette Taxes So High? High cigarette taxes serve two purposes: discouraging smoking through higher prices and generating revenue for state health programs. Research shows that every 10% increase in cigarette prices reduces smoking rates by approximately 4% among adults and 7% among youth.
Last Updated: May 29, 2026
Sources
- State Excise and Sales Taxes Per Pack of Cigarettes - Tobacco Free Kids
- Cigarette & Tobacco Taxes - American Lung Association
- Oregon Measure 108, Tobacco and E-Cigarette Tax Increase for Health Programs Measure (2020) - Balottpedia
- State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation (STATE) System - CDC
- Cigarette Tax - Colorado General Assembly
- Tobacco Tax Bulletin, TT-78 - Maryland Taxes
- FTC Report Finds Annual Cigarette Sales Increased for the First Time in 20 Years - Federal Trade Comission
- Big Tobacco stands down as Colorado and Oregon hike cigarette taxes - Fortune
- Illinois Cigarette Tax to Become One of Nation’s Highest - Illinois Policy
- Current State Cigarette Tax Rates - American Lung Association
- SLATI Overview - American Lung Association
- Tobacco tax revenue and forecast in the United States from 2000 to 2029 - Statista
- Cigarette Tax - Taxation & Revenue New Mexico
- CDC STATE System Tobacco Legislation - CDC
- Cigarette Tax - Virginia Tax
