cigarette prices colorado
Cigarette Prices in Colorado 2025: What You’re Really Paying Now
Cigarette prices Colorado smokers must pay have hit $10.85 per pack in 2025, which towers above the national average of $9.74. Daily smokers in the state might be stunned to learn they spend about $3,955 each year on cigarettes.
This piece will explain what makes up your cigarette costs in Colorado. You’ll learn why these prices keep climbing and see how different brands and locations stack up against each other throughout the state.
Colorado Cigarette Prices in 2025: The Current Numbers
Colorado smokers will pay higher cigarette prices in 2025 due to state-mandated minimum pricing and tax changes. Here’s what you need to know about the numbers.
Average cost per pack in Colorado
Colorado’s minimum cigarette price jumped to $7.50 per pack starting July 1, 2024. This new state-mandated floor price includes all taxes and shows a 50-cent increase from the $7.00 minimum that was in place from January 2021 through June 2024.
The actual average price for cigarettes in Colorado ranges from $8.50 to $9.50, depending on your location. Premium brands like Marlboro cost more than the minimum price, while budget brands stay closer to it. Some Colorado areas have added their own local excise taxes, which pushes prices even higher.
How Colorado compares to national average
Colorado’s cigarette tax stands at $1.94 per pack, putting it just above the national average of $1.88. The state ranks 28th among all 50 states as of 2023. The total cigarette prices in Colorado sit right in the middle range nationally.
A mainstream brand of cigarettes costs about $10.25 on average across the country. Prices vary widely from $7.95 in North Carolina to $14.55 in New York. Colorado’s prices aren’t as high as New York or Connecticut (both charging $4.35 state excise tax), but they’re not among the lowest either. Missouri keeps the lowest state excise tax at just $0.17 per pack.
Price trends in the last 5 years
Colorado’s cigarette prices have risen steadily with the national trend. The average pack now costs about $1.50 more than in 2018. Several factors drive this increase:
These rising costs have pushed many Colorado smokers to look for alternatives. Some turn to online retailers that offer affordable pricing (such as https://cheapcartoncigarettes.com/).
What Makes Cigarettes Expensive in Colorado?
The high cost of cigarettes in Colorado comes from a complex tax setup. Let’s get into why the cost of cigarettes in Colorado keeps going up every year.
State excise tax breakdown
Colorado’s cigarette tax has three main parts. The first part is a 1¢ per cigarette tax that’s 60 years old. Voters said yes to a second tax of 3.2¢ per cigarette with Amendment 35 in 2004. The newest addition came from Proposition EE in 2020, which started at 5.5¢ per cigarette in 2021. Right now, the total state excise tax is 9.7¢ per cigarette, making it $1.94 per pack.
Sales tax and local levies
Cigarette prices Colorado smokers pay include more than just excise taxes. The state takes another 2.9% in sales tax. On top of that, many local areas have added their own cigarette taxes, which makes prices even higher in certain places..
Federal tax and its role
The federal government adds its own tax layer too. The current federal excise tax is 5.03¢ per cigarette, which adds up to $1.01 per pack of 20 cigarettes. This federal tax stays the same in every state, whatever the state and local tax rates might be.
So if you want to know how much is a pack of cigarettes in Colorado, you need to add up:
- State excise tax ($1.94-$2.64)
- Federal excise tax ($1.01)
- State sales tax (2.9%)
- Local taxes (up to $4.00)
Smokers looking to save money might find better prices at online retailers like https://cheapcartoncigarettes.com/.
How Brand and Type Affect What You Pay
Your choice of brand at the register makes a big difference in what you pay for cigarettes in Colorado. Price gaps between different types of cigarettes have gotten smaller over the last several years because the state mandates minimum pricing.
Premium vs. discount brands
Discount cigarettes used to save Colorado smokers a lot of money compared to premium brands. Before the minimum pricing laws came into effect, discount cigarettes cost between $3.80 and $5.32 per pack in Colorado. Premium brands like Marlboro cost more at about $6.55 per pack.
Camel cigarettes’ price difference from the cheapest discount brand dropped from $2.40 to just 48 cents because of the minimum price floor. Newport cigarettes now cost only $1.21 more than discount options, down from a previous gap of $3.13.
Popular brands in Colorado
Brand priorities stay strong among Colorado smokers even with smaller price differences. Premium brands lead the market. Marlboro, Newport, and Camel remain the top three cigarette brands that young smokers choose nationwide.
High school smokers across the country show clear preferences – 48.8% pick Marlboro, 16.6% go for Newport, and 13.3% choose Camel. Marlboro’s popularity grew by a lot between 2012 and 2016, rising from 38.5% to 48.8%.
Price range by brand category
Small price differences still exist between brand categories even with minimum price rules:
- Premium brands (Marlboro, Newport, Camel): Now sell for about $8.00-$9.00 per pack
- Mid-tier brands: Cost between $7.75-$8.25 per pack
- Discount brands: Start at the $7.50 minimum, which removes most of their previous price advantage
Discount cigarette makers have fought against Colorado’s minimum price rule. They say it will “eliminate price competition” and “hinder their ability to compete”. You might want to check out https://cheapcartoncigarettes.com/ to find better prices unless you’re looking for premium brands.
The Real Cost of Smoking in Colorado
Smoking hits Colorado residents with staggering hidden expenses that go way beyond the price on the pack. The financial burden adds up quickly.
Annual cost for daily smokers
Colorado smokers’ wallets take a massive hit. The total annual cost per smoker in Colorado reaches an eye-opening $32,504. A smoker’s direct expenses for cigarette purchases amount to $1,989. Their income drops by $5,237 each year because of lower productivity and missed work days. These expenses pile up to roughly $1,448,009 over a lifetime. Financial advisors point to quitting smoking as one of the best ways to boost personal finances.
Health-related costs per pack
Healthcare expenses are nowhere near the purchase price. Each Colorado smoker pays about $3,095 yearly in smoking-related medical costs. The state’s healthcare system loses $2.19 billion annually to smoking-related illnesses. Each pack adds $17.26 to healthcare costs. Colorado’s taxpayers end up paying $415.3 million in Medicaid expenses from smoking-related illnesses. This creates a $772 tax burden for every household.
How much is a pack of cigarettes in Colorado vs. other states
Colorado stands at 19th place among states with expensive cigarette prices. Packs cost around $7.99, putting the state in the middle range nationwide. This price point sits above Southern states like Missouri, where packs cost $6.11. New York tops the list with packs averaging $11.96.
Where to buy cheaper cigarettes online (e.g., https://cheapcartoncigarettes.com/)
Colorado smokers looking to reduce costs often turn to online retailers. Sites like https://cheapcartoncigarettes.com/ provide competitive prices and easy delivery options. Colorado law allows cigarette delivery services. Popular delivery apps like Saucey and Gopuff bring major brands right to your doorstep. These brands include Marlboro, American Spirit, Camel, and Newport. Gopuff charges a modest delivery fee starting at $3.95, making online ordering an attractive choice for cost-conscious smokers across the state.
Conclusion
The Bottom Line on Colorado Cigarette Prices
Colorado’s cigarette prices pack a serious punch to smokers’ wallets. The minimum price floor of $7.50 per pack has changed how people buy cigarettes statewide. On top of that, planned tax hikes will drive these prices up even more, and the state excise tax will reach $2.64 per pack by 2027.
Colorado smokers looking to save money have options. Many people now buy from online stores like cheapcartoncigarettes.com to get better prices. Since Colorado allows cigarette delivery, these online retailers are a legal way to reduce the effect of climbing taxes and minimum price rules.
Cigarette prices will keep going up as state and local governments roll out more tax increases. Smart Colorado smokers need to know what they’re paying for and look at all buying options to keep their costs down while they smoke.
FAQs
Q1. What is the current average price of cigarettes in Colorado? As of 2025, the average price for a pack of cigarettes in Colorado ranges from $8.50 to $9.50, depending on the location and brand. Premium brands typically cost more, while discount brands are priced closer to the state-mandated minimum of $7.50 per pack.
Q2. How does Colorado’s cigarette pricing compare to other states? Colorado falls in the middle range for cigarette prices nationally. It’s more expensive than Southern states like North Carolina and Missouri but considerably cheaper than states like New York or Connecticut, which have the highest cigarette prices in the country.
Q3. What factors contribute to the high cost of cigarettes in Colorado? The price of cigarettes in Colorado is influenced by several factors, including state excise taxes, federal taxes, state sales tax, and local levies. Some Colorado localities have implemented significant local taxes, adding up to $4.00 per pack in certain areas.
Q4. How much do Colorado smokers spend annually on cigarettes? A daily smoker in Colorado spends approximately $3,955 annually just on cigarette purchases. However, when factoring in health-related costs and lost productivity, the total annual cost per smoker in Colorado reaches an estimated $32,504.
Q5. Are there ways to find cheaper cigarettes in Colorado? Some Colorado smokers are turning to online retailers for more competitive pricing. Websites like cheapcartoncigarettes.com offer lower prices, and since Colorado permits cigarette delivery, this can be a legal way to mitigate the impact of rising taxes and minimum pricing requirements.