# Smokers, how much do you pay for cigarettes? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 13, 2004, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043 "2004-06-13T00:36:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sami41](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c57346/32.png) [@Sami41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sami41)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043/1 "2004-06-13T00:36:34Z")
Just out of curiosity. I just paid $3.39 for a pack of Marlboro lights, the cheapest pack I’ve bought in some time. The store where I usually buy smokes charges $4.08 (after tax). I realize that 4 bucks is still incredibly cheap compared to many places. I visited Chicago last spring and paid $10.58 for 2 packs–on sale. So, I’m not by any means complaining about the expense (if I’m going to kill myself, I may as well pay for it), I’m just curious what the prices are like in other places. Thanks, ~S ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043/2 "2004-06-13T01:12:08Z")
I’ve been paying $3.10 (including tax)/pack for Camel Ultra Lights for about 2 years now - the sign says it’s a special price, but it hasn’t gone up in a while. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043/3 "2004-06-13T01:24:27Z")
From $5.00 - $5.25 a pack. Everything in the SF Bay area is about a dollar more than you’ll find it in the rest of the country (except, for example, New York). Plus I switched to American Spirits, partly because they are more expensive, which I thought would be an added incentive for me to quit. (Man, that backfired.) But I guess I’m stuck with those, until I quit smoking altogether. Now, whenever I try to switch back to Camels, I go through them so quickly that I end up smoking twice as much and would wake up feeling like something died in my mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043/4 "2004-06-13T01:26:22Z")
i dont buy them but once they went to $4 a pack the people i know started buying them from switzerland. I think they’re about $2 a pack there. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043/5 "2004-06-13T01:27:13Z")
I pay $4.09 per pack. I could get them for about three bucks a pack, but it’s too much hassle to go to the PX. In Pennsylvania, the state government passed a new fifty-cent per pack tax to go into a fund to cover physician’s medical malpractice insurance. My pre-med friend no longer hassles me about smoking, since he knows one of the reasons his father can stay in practice is because I smoke. Robin ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043/6 "2004-06-13T01:32:03Z")
~$2 or ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043/7 "2004-06-13T01:33:08Z")
I pay $30.63 for a carton of “Jacks,” an off brand cheapie… ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043/8 "2004-06-13T01:33:29Z")
Uh, yeah. Don’t know how that happened. I pay ~$2 per pack. Find a local cigarette store. Purchase loose tobacco at incredibly low prices. Roll your own. Repeat. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043/9 "2004-06-13T01:35:38Z")
I sell cigarettes in central CA. All Marlboros and Virginia Slims are $4.13 after tax, with a 2 for $7.49 deal, Camels are $3.97 with a 2 for $7.08 deal, Benson & Hedges are $4.28, Newports are $4.99, Basic and GPC are $3.85, and el cheapo Monarch are $3.10, or 2 for $5.25. We often recieve pre-packaged 2-for-1 and 3-for-2 deals on Camel and Marlboro, with a low of 3 Marlboros for $7.49. When I started in retail, 15 years ago in NJ, they were ALL $1.75 per pack. George ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043/10 "2004-06-13T01:42:14Z")
Well, if I plan properly and go to the Indian Reservation, I pay $2.30 a pack for Camels or 85 cents a pack for the cheap house brand. At the store, I do Camels or Lucky Strikes for $5.40 or Pall malls, which my local CVS has inexplicably been selling at $3.34. (This is all after taxes.) ---
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043/11 "2004-06-13T01:44:41Z")
I never buy cigs by the pack but if I break down the cost of what I pay for cartons of Kool Ultra-Lights over the internet it’s $1.78 a pack. That includes shipping. ---
**Author:** ![Tikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@Tikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tikki)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043/12 "2004-06-13T01:49:21Z")
I don’t smoke but most brands seem to be around $5. The other day I was driving around with my Dad and we saw a sign for a carton of some brand for $51. I looked at my Dad and said, “Aren’t you glad you quit?” I think I’ll stick to my diet cola addiction. Hey, Wheresgeorge, I like your website. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![erislover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/71e660/32.png) [@erislover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erislover)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043/13 "2004-06-13T01:58:17Z")
> [@AllShookDown](#): > > I never buy cigs by the pack but if I break down the cost of what I pay for cartons of Kool Ultra-Lights over the internet it’s $1.78 a pack. That includes shipping. Dude. Link. ---
**Author:** ![legion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@legion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legion)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043/14 "2004-06-13T02:00:31Z")
In the UK I pay £4.20 give or take 10 pence. I just got back from Corfu where I could get them for about £1.80. I filled a suitcase with 'em! ---
**Author:** ![ShadiRoxan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@ShadiRoxan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadiRoxan)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043/15 "2004-06-13T02:07:27Z")
$5.12 for a pack of Kamel Red Lights. That’s gas station price. Unfortunately that brand is hard to find anywhere else. ---
**Author:** ![bbart4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/51bf81/32.png) [@bbart4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbart4)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043/16 "2004-06-13T02:17:00Z")
I usually buy cartons in VA. About $23-30 per carton. Or from the Internet: [http://www.yesmoke.ch](http://www.yesmoke.ch) (tastes a bit different but cheap). In MD and DC a carton is about $40-45. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043/17 "2004-06-13T02:32:42Z")
Just bought a carton of Winstons near Richmond, Va. for $19.99 plus tax. Packs of Winstons and Marlboros were $2.10. Near Baltimore, packs are around $3.50. ---
**Author:** ![Burrido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Burrido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burrido)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043/18 "2004-06-13T02:57:13Z")
$4.14 Newports at Cub Foods. From Superamerica down the street ~$5 ish. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043/19 "2004-06-13T02:59:24Z")
I always buy 2 at a time. It’s $6.01 for two packs at the gas station across the street. Woo-hoo for me. I’m drunk! Yay for me! ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Daddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Bruce\_Daddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Daddy)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2004, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043/20 "2004-06-13T04:02:03Z")
\< $3.00, $2.50 if I search around. $20 for a carton when I’m so inclined. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/smokers-how-much-do-you-pay-for-cigarettes/250043.md?page=2)