How much does smoking cost in North Carolina? (2026)
$8.75
average pack in North Carolina (Jan 2026), #46 most expensive of 51. State excise $0.45 + federal $1.01.
$3,194a year for a pack a day
6.0%average yearly price rise, 2016–2026
$42,678roughly, the next 10 years at that pace
A pack a day since…
| Started | Spent (real North Carolina prices) | Same money in the S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $22,185 | $46,395 |
| 2006 | $37,739 | $147,776 |
| 1996 | $47,165 | $240,185 |
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 North Carolina
| 1970 | $0.29 |
| 1980 | $0.50 |
| 1990 | $1.27 |
| 2000 | $2.77 |
| 2010 | $4.59 |
| 2020 | $5.32 |
| 2026 | $8.75 |
Sources: CDC, The Tax Burden on Tobacco (1970–2019); Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (2020–2026).
Join the trend
In North Carolina, 10.7% of adults smoke, down from 21.8% in 2011. 22.9% are former smokers: more people in North Carolina 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.