How much does smoking cost in Alabama? (2026)
$8.34
average pack in Alabama (Jan 2026), #50 most expensive of 51. State excise $0.68 + federal $1.01.
$3,044a year for a pack a day
4.4%average yearly price rise, 2016–2026
$37,796roughly, the next 10 years at that pace
A pack a day since…
| Started | Spent (real Alabama prices) | Same money in the S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $23,176 | $48,976 |
| 2006 | $39,731 | $156,332 |
| 1996 | $49,914 | $256,172 |
Monthly, through December 2025. S&P 500 total returns with dividends (A. Damodaran, NYU Stern). Historical illustration, not a prediction.
50+ years of pack prices in Alabama
| 1970 | $0.43 |
| 1980 | $0.69 |
| 1990 | $1.44 |
| 2000 | $2.88 |
| 2010 | $4.73 |
| 2020 | $5.44 |
| 2026 | $8.34 |
Sources: CDC, The Tax Burden on Tobacco (1970–2019); Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (2020–2026).
Join the trend
In Alabama, 12.0% of adults smoke, down from 24.3% in 2011. 24.9% are former smokers: more people in Alabama have quit than still smoke.
CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 2011–2025.
All 50 states and DC · Made by a smoker, for smokers.