# how much is a carton of cigs in nyc? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 20, 2016, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212 "2016-05-20T07:22:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212/1 "2016-05-20T07:22:20Z")
Ok we just watched a episode of csi ny and they were talking about the Russian mob smuggling counterfeit cigs and the csi guy asked the actual cop character how much a carton cost in nyc and he responded about 130$ The date of the episode was 2012 so how much is a carton these days? I’m thinking name brands would be that high tho as the generics would hopefully be discounted ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212/2 "2016-05-20T07:28:56Z")
New York has the most expensive cigarettes in the country. The average, according to [this](http://www.theawl.com/2015/08/what-a-pack-of-cigarettes-costs-in-every-state), is $13.50 a pack, so $130 for a carton would be just about normal. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212/3 "2016-05-20T07:49:50Z")
wow I remember as a kid in the early 80s every one swearing to quit because a carton of cigs was TEN dollars … and the late 80s my moms friend had a pen pal from Sweden who would come over to buy smokes because his was 12$ a pack although ive heard in Europe buying single cigarettes was the thing since no one could buy a whole pack I guess we caught up … ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212/4 "2016-05-20T08:10:11Z")
I remember making a promise to myself to quit smoking once cigarettes reached 50 cents a pack. This was in the 70s and I expected this to allow me to smoke a few more years before I had to quit. According to the government’s inflation calculator cigarettes that cost 50 cents in 1974 should cost $3.40 today. I suspect increased government regulation of the tobacco industry as well as increased state and federal taxes account for the fact they are so much higher than that. (Not that this is a bad thing. Most of the people I know who smoke now only smoke a half pack a day, if that much. When I was smoking, two packs a day was considered light. I smoked three and half packs a day and no one thought it was excessive. Thankfully I was finally able to quit.) It would suit me fine if they were outlawed altogether. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212/5 "2016-05-20T10:18:16Z")
It wasn’t long ago that I bought a carton of Marlboros for about $2 from [the petty smugglers](http://www.photojournale.com/data/media/151/_moei_river14.JPG) who [sneak across the Moei River](http://www.photojournale.com/data/media/151/crossing_moei_river1.JPG). I think they were fake Marlboros, but they had the pretty red packs and cartoons. ---
**Author:** ![SigMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SigMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SigMan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212/6 "2016-05-20T11:45:31Z")
I’m glad I quit smoking but I didn’t have to because my smokes were dirt cheap and for years and years. Nothing funny about it but you have to roll your own which I liked just fine. Online tobacco shops have pipe tobacco that are dual purpose meaning they can be smoked as cigarettes. Some brands were actually better tasting than cigarettes. My fav was Criss Cross pipe tobacco and was $16-$18 for 16 oz bag. two of those and a $25 box of rolling papers last me between 3-4 months. Can’t get any cheaper than that. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212/7 "2016-05-20T13:24:30Z")
Back in 1967 a pack from the vending machines in the D.C. area was 35 cents (a bit cheaper in stores). On a bus trip I was utterly shocked to find that in the vending machines in the bus depot in New York they were a dollar. Sounds like they’re still about three times what they cost in many other U.S. cities. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212/8 "2016-05-20T13:34:22Z")
Remember when an ounce of weed would set you back $400 … pffft … that same bag is yours now for $125 … I guess … the one neighbor always grows too much and just gives me a half pound every fall. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212/9 "2016-05-20T13:36:42Z")
> [@SigMan](#): > > Online tobacco shops have pipe tobacco that are dual purpose meaning they can be smoked as cigarettes. Some brands were actually better tasting than cigarettes. It’s been a long time since I smoked. (Buying “Marlboros” at the Moei River is just to give away.) But back in the day I loved to roll my own; some brands were delicious — much better than any store-bought cigarette. ZigZag was my favorite brand, but it was very hard to find in California circa 1980. (I did try rolling a cigarette from pipe tobacco once. I found it _much_ too strong. :eek: I guess there must be a wide variety of pipe tobacco.) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212/10 "2016-05-20T13:45:36Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > Remember when an ounce of weed would set you back $400 … pffft … that same bag is yours now for $125 … I guess … the one neighbor always grows too much and just gives me a half pound every fall. CA has a legalization prop on the ballot this year that will allow individuals to grow 6 plants on their property. My friends who grow now produce some very good stuff and they aren’t particularly skilled. I expect that will have an impact on price in CA if this passes, which I’m pretty sure it will. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212/11 "2016-05-20T14:00:21Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > CA has a legalization prop on the ballot this year that will allow individuals to grow 6 plants on their property. My friends who grow now produce some very good stuff and they aren’t particularly skilled. I expect that will have an impact on price in CA if this passes, which I’m pretty sure it will. More than just cutting a financial source for organized crime syndicates … it will free up the police to enforce more serious crimes … Like toking and driving … ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212/12 "2016-05-20T14:24:33Z")
> [@Lord\_Feldon](#): > > New York has the most expensive cigarettes in the country. The average, according to [this](http://www.theawl.com/2015/08/what-a-pack-of-cigarettes-costs-in-every-state), is $13.50 a pack, so $130 for a carton would be just about normal. This is also why NYC has people illegally reselling single cigarettes on the street. ---
**Author:** ![Doyle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doyle/32/439_2.png) [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212/13 "2016-05-20T14:30:55Z")
Ever been on a flight to Europe? About an hour out of the destination, the airline starts selling duty free smokes and people are just standing in line to get them. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212/14 "2016-05-20T15:06:28Z")
> [@Doyle](#): > > Ever been on a flight to Europe? About an hour out of the destination, the airline starts selling duty free smokes and people are just standing in line to get them. Reselling? They’re selling _used_ cigarettes? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![SigMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@SigMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SigMan)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2016, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212/15 "2016-05-20T15:09:08Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > It’s been a long time since I smoked. (Buying “Marlboros” at the Moei River is just to give away.) But back in the day I loved to roll my own; some brands were delicious — much better than any store-bought cigarette. ZigZag was my favorite brand, but it was very hard to find in California circa 1980. > > (I did try rolling a cigarette from pipe tobacco once. I found it _much_ too strong. :eek: I guess there must be a wide variety of pipe tobacco.) Yes, some are pipe tobacco and not suited for cigarette. What you want are dual purpose pipe tobacco. They’re all marked pipe tobacco so a Google search will sort 'em out from reviews. Prince Albert and Raleigh’s are not it. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212/16 "2016-05-21T18:11:44Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Reselling? They’re selling _used_ cigarettes? 😛 I realize this is a joke, but it made me think: how _do_ those guys on the street obtain the cigarettes they’re selling? Are they selling stolen cigarettes, or cigarettes purchased in other cities or states (which presumably have lower tobacco taxes), or what? I assume they’re selling them for less than the stores that legally sell them, right? It looks like a carton of cigarettes here in Nevada is roughly $70, and some cartons are under $40, so I guess New York City is indeed quite expensive… ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212/17 "2016-05-21T18:26:20Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > I realize this is a joke, but it made me think: how _do_ those guys on the street obtain the cigarettes they’re selling? Are they selling stolen cigarettes, or cigarettes purchased in other cities or states (which presumably have lower tobacco taxes), or what? I assume they’re selling them for less than the stores that legally sell them, right? > > It looks like a carton of cigarettes here in Nevada is roughly $70, and some cartons are under $40, so I guess New York City is indeed quite expensive… [Smuggled, Untaxed Cigarettes Are Everywhere in New York City](http://www.villagevoice.com/news/smuggled-untaxed-cigarettes-are-everywhere-in-new-york-city-6717621) [60% of cigarettes sold in New York are smuggled: report](http://money.cnn.com/2013/01/10/news/companies/cigarette-tax-new-york/) [NYC probe finds massive number of illegal, untaxed cigs](http://nypost.com/2012/06/08/nyc-probe-finds-massive-number-of-illegal-untaxed-cigs/) [I Spent a Day with a Guy Selling Illegal Cigarettes on the Streets of New York](http://www.vice.com/read/i-spent-a-day-with-a-guy-selling-illegal-cigarettes-on-the-streets-of-nyc-1023) ---
**Author:** ![Rama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ccd318/32.png) [@Rama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rama)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212/18 "2016-05-21T19:21:17Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > wow I remember as a kid in the early 80s every one swearing to quit because a carton of cigs was TEN dollars … and the late 80s my moms friend had a pen pal from Sweden who would come over to buy smokes because his was 12$ a pack > although ive heard in Europe buying single cigarettes was the thing since no one could buy a whole pack > I guess we caught up … Europe has cheaper cigarettes than USA and Canada. People ask me all the time if they can buy one off me here in Canada and I don’t even smoke. I know they are supposed to increase in price in Europe too to probably to 7-8 bucks. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212/19 "2016-05-21T19:32:54Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > According to the government’s inflation calculator cigarettes that cost 50 cents in 1974 should cost $3.40 today. I suspect increased government regulation of the tobacco industry as well as increased state and federal taxes account for the fact they are so much higher than that. It’s well over 50% taxes in NYC and Chicago. Federal excise tax is $1.01 a pack, everywhere in the US. State taxes range from 30 cents (Virginia, of course) to $4.35 in New York, with an additional $1.50 in NYC and a whopping $4.18 in Chicago (on top of the IL state rate of $1.98 - most expensive packs in the US.) Sales tax also applies in most if not all taxing jurisdictions. It looks like ciggies are just over $5.00 a pack, pre-tax, average. (Nonsmoker; I save my vice dollars for bourbon instead.) ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2016, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212/20 "2016-05-21T19:47:28Z")
Thanks for the info. In addition to the health benefits I’m even more glad to have kicked them when I did in the mid-eighties. My three-and-a-half pack a day habit would be very costly these days. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-is-a-carton-of-cigs-in-nyc/755212.md?page=2)