How much does smoking cost in New Jersey? (2026)
$11.66
average pack in New Jersey (Jan 2026), #16 most expensive of 51. State excise $3.00 + federal $1.01.
$4,256a year for a pack a day
4.5%average yearly price rise, 2016–2026
$53,030roughly, the next 10 years at that pace
A pack a day since…
| Started | Spent (real New Jersey prices) | Same money in the S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $32,297 | $68,320 |
| 2006 | $57,708 | $234,882 |
| 1996 | $71,916 | $373,032 |
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 New Jersey
| 1970 | $0.42 |
| 1980 | $0.69 |
| 1990 | $1.80 |
| 2000 | $3.64 |
| 2010 | $7.29 |
| 2020 | $7.85 |
| 2026 | $11.66 |
Sources: CDC, The Tax Burden on Tobacco (1970–2019); Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (2020–2026).
Join the trend
In New Jersey, 7.1% of adults smoke, down from 16.8% in 2011. 24.6% are former smokers: more people in New Jersey 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.