How much does smoking cost in New York? (2026)
$14.83
average pack in New York (Jan 2026), #1 most expensive of 51. State excise $5.35 + federal $1.01.
$5,413a year for a pack a day
3.8%average yearly price rise, 2016–2026
$65,186roughly, the next 10 years at that pace
A pack a day since…
| Started | Spent (real New York prices) | Same money in the S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $42,205 | $90,104 |
| 2006 | $73,224 | $289,198 |
| 1996 | $88,111 | $434,948 |
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 York
| 1970 | $0.42 |
| 1980 | $0.66 |
| 1990 | $1.80 |
| 2000 | $3.98 |
| 2010 | $9.65 |
| 2020 | $10.47 |
| 2026 | $14.83 |
Sources: CDC, The Tax Burden on Tobacco (1970–2019); Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (2020–2026).
Join the trend
In New York, 9.1% of adults smoke, down from 18.1% in 2011. 22.6% are former smokers: more people in New York 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.