As a cigarette should

May 23, 2008 7:57 PM

Smoking hot american mefites! I'll be traveling from MD to MA soon. Which state between here and there has the cheapest cigarettes?

I found this lovely document in my searches, but it seems to be dated 0207 and since then at least MD's cig taxes just went up, so I don't trust its accuracy. I will likely be traveling through MD, DE, PA, RI, CT, NY, MA. Thanks!

posted by frecklefaerie to Shopping (15 answers total)

Well I'll just throw in that a pack of Parliament Lights in NYC is up to a little over $7 now. They're a little cheaper on L.I., but not much- I assume it's the same for the rest of the state.

Here's a table showing the cigarette excise taxes by state (Up to July 1 2008).
posted by self at 8:09 PM on May 23, 2008

By that document I posted, it's Delaware hands down, by $.20.
posted by self at 8:11 PM on May 23, 2008

Cross the border from Maryland into Virginia. (If you are going to be anywhere near Washington D.C. this will be easy). That's where my New York smoking friends get their cheap smokes.
posted by extrabox at 8:12 PM on May 23, 2008

Response by poster: Nah, VA is out of the way, and it always takes forever to go there just for cheap smokes, i.e. you make up the difference in gas.

I should mention that MD is currently $6/pack. I'm looking for cheaper than that.
posted by frecklefaerie at 8:21 PM on May 23, 2008

Response by poster: I suppose I want to know how much people are paying for cigarettes in the states I'm traveling through. Right now my chart says:

MD $6
NY $7
posted by frecklefaerie at 8:22 PM on May 23, 2008

I don't smoke, but I'm *pretty* sure that WV is significantly cheaper than that. Cheap enough that people keep getting busted to selling WV taxed cigs in other states.
posted by TomMelee at 8:24 PM on May 23, 2008

( I realize WV wasn't in your list of states, but I'm pretty sure I saw some somethings listed today at a convenience store for like 2.67 or something. I think what my mom smokes are like $3.50. If you're going to buy a bunch of packs it would be worth your while to deviate...assuming $2/pack savings.)

I could be completely wrong though, like I said I don't smoke. I know that camel and marlboro have a lot of "Buy X packs get X packs free" deals, what with minimum prices per pack now and such.
posted by TomMelee at 8:26 PM on May 23, 2008

My husband buys his Camels at a Hess station on Route 1 in South Attleboro, MA, for $5.03. If you're taking 95 up, it'll be very convenient to get to.
posted by Ruki at 8:40 PM on May 23, 2008

When I smoked, I bought them from Switzerland. IIRC, It was 12-15$ a carton including shipping.
posted by stavrogin at 8:44 PM on May 23, 2008 [1 favorite]

Delaware, definitely.
posted by cheerwine at 8:49 PM on May 23, 2008

In Somerville, MA the price of Camels is $5.25 or so. I believe other name brands are similarly priced, although it's been a while since I've bought anything else.
posted by Banky_Edwards at 4:08 AM on May 24, 2008

In Harrisburg (and probably most of PA outside Philly and the Turnpike monopoly), Marlboros run around $4.20 per pack, or as low as $4.00 if you buy them by the carton.
posted by Doofus Magoo at 5:00 AM on May 24, 2008

Not that I smoke anymore, but Delaware is the place for smokes
posted by ob at 9:21 AM on May 24, 2008

Retailers Located on Native American Reservations (limited souce with a few reservations)
BIA map of all the reservations in the US (pdf)--not sure if all reservations sell cigs at a discount, but ...
posted by hulahulagirl at 2:49 PM on May 27, 2008

ahem, limited source
posted by hulahulagirl at 2:49 PM on May 27, 2008