Cigarette prices by US state

State excise taxes range from $0.17 per pack in Missouri to $5.35 per pack in New York — a 31x spread. This single variable explains most of the price difference you see in the table above. Cities like Chicago ($1.18/pack local tax), New York City ($1.50/pack), and Philadelphia ($2.00/pack) add another layer on top. The federal government adds $1.01 per pack — a flat rate unchanged since 2009.

For a pack-a-day smoker, the tax difference alone translates to $1,902 per year in Missouri vs. $5,690 per year in New York City — a $3,788 annual gap for the exact same quantity of cigarettes.

Federal excise tax: $1.01 per pack

The federal government collects a flat $1.01 on every pack of 20 cigarettes, regardless of brand or location. This rate was set in 2009 by the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act and has not changed since. For a carton of 10 packs, the federal tax alone adds $10.10.

State excise tax: the main variable

State governments levy their own excise taxes, which range from $0.17 per pack (Missouri) to $5.35 per pack (New York). This 31x spread is the primary reason a pack costs $5.21 in Missouri but $12.85 in New York. States set their tobacco tax rates through a mix of public health policy goals and revenue needs. States with historically strong tobacco farming traditions (North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia) tend to set lower rates. States with aggressive public health agendas (New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts) set rates high. Some states (California, Colorado) use tobacco tax revenue to fund specific programs — healthcare, education, or smoking cessation services.

Local taxes: the city-level surcharge

Major cities often layer their own cigarette taxes on top of state and federal taxes. Chicago adds $1.18 per pack (Cook County adds another $3.00 on top of that). New York City adds $1.50. Philadelphia adds $2.00. These local surcharges can push a pack $1–3 above the state average in urban areas. A pack in the Bronx costs significantly more than the same pack in upstate New York, and a pack in downtown Chicago costs more than a pack in rural Illinois. The state averages on this page include these local taxes where applicable, but individual store prices may be higher.