MY LASTSMOKE BREAK Cost of smoking
Cost of smoking in California: $4,300 a year
A pack of cigarettes in California costs about $11.78 on average (January 2026). Smoking a pack a day costs about $4,300 a year and $42,997 over ten years at today's price. California ranks 15th of 51 for price (1 = most expensive), $1.63 above the US average of $10.15.
What a habit costs in California
| Habit | Per day | Per month | Per year | 10 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half a pack a day | $5.89 | $179 | $2,150 | $21,499 |
| A pack a day | $11.78 | $358 | $4,300 | $42,997 |
| A pack and a half | $17.67 | $537 | $6,450 | $64,495 |
How California compares
| Place | Rank | Pack | Pack a day, per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 15th | $11.78 | $4,300 |
| US average | $10.15 | $3,705 | |
| New York (most expensive) | 1st | $14.83 | $5,413 |
| Missouri (cheapest) | 51st | $8.01 | $2,924 |
Taxes per pack in California: $2.87 state excise plus $1.01 federal excise, plus any state and local sales tax.
Questions
How much is a pack of cigarettes in California?
About $11.78 on average as of January 2026, including taxes. That is $1.63 above the US average of $10.15, and 15th most expensive of the 50 states and DC.
How much does smoking a pack a day cost a year in California?
About $4,300 a year at $11.78 a pack, and about $42,997 over ten years at today's price.
How much of a pack's price in California is tax?
California's state excise tax is $2.87 a pack and the federal excise tax is $1.01, so $3.88 of the $11.78 is excise tax before any sales tax.
The app that expects you to smoke today. A 90-day smoke scheduler, not a treatment. It costs $20 once, never a subscription: about 2 days of a pack a day in California.
Twenty bucks. Once. See how it worksSource: average retail price and state excise tax per pack of 20, as of January 2026, from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (fact sheet 0202), as published by World Population Review. Prices include federal ($1.01) and state excise and sales taxes, not local taxes. Checked October 17, 2026. The yearly numbers are the pack price times 365, at today's price. Your store and your brand will differ: put in what you pay in the calculator.