The Most and Least Expensive States to Be a Smoker

Smoking is not an inexpensive hobby. Smokers not only spend money on cigarettes and tobacco, but also on healthcare to manage smoking-related illnesses. Approximately 36.5 million Americans are avid tobacco users who spend large sums of money on their habit and the consequences that come with it.

Wallethub recently published an analysis that calculated the potential monetary losses of smokers in the 50 states and the District of Columbia to see which region was the most expensive and the cheapest for tobacco users. The researchers looked at the lifetime and annual cost of a cigarette pack per day, healthcare expenditures, income losses, and other costs that are a result of smoking and second-hand smoke.

Here are the 5 least costly and most expensive states to be a smoker.

Least Costly

5. North Dakota

The annual total cost per smoker in North Dakota calculated to $23,357, making the lifetime cost add up to $1,191,219. North Dakota was ranked the cheapest out of all the states for out-of-pocket costs and financial opportunity costs; however, the state was ranked 33 at $4729 per year for income loss per smoker. The state is also the only non-Southern state to land in the top 5 for least expensive states to be a smoker.

4. Mississippi

In Mississippi, the annual total cost per smoker was $23,226 while the lifetime cost comes out to be $1,184,526. The state was had the lowest income loss per smoker at $3242 and was ranked 33 for other costs per smoker.

3. North Carolina

Smokers in North Carolina pay an annual total cost of $22,789 and a lifetime cost of $1,162,243. The state was ranked the second cheapest for out-of-pocket costs at $1694 and financial opportunity cost at $14,227. It ranked 27 for other costs per smoker.

2. Georgia

In Georgia, the annual total cost per smoker was $22,675 while the lifetime cost came to $1,156,444. The southern state was ranked the third cheapest for out-of-pocket costs and financial opportunity cost and was ranked 20 for income loss per smoker.

1. Kentucky

Kentucky is the cheapest state for smokers in the United States. The annual total cost per smoker in Kentucky was $22,453 and over a lifetime added up to $1,145,128. The state was ranked the fourth cheapest for out-of-pocket costs and financial opportunity cost and ranked the second cheapest for healthcare cost per smoker at $2315.

Go to the next page to see the 5 most expensive states.

Most Expensive

47. Hawaii

In Hawaii, the total cost per smoker per year came out to be $40,542, making average lifetime costs to be $2,067,655. The state was ranked 47 for out-of-pocket costs ($3285), financial opportunity cost ($27,595) and income loss ($5758).

48. Rhode Island

The annual total cost per smoker in Rhode Island calculated to be $42,499 with an average lifetime cost equaling $2,167,445. The state was the second-most expensive for out-of-pocket costs and financial opportunity cost and was ranked 49 for healthcare cost per smoker at $5278.

49. Connecticut

In Connecticut, the annual total cost per smoker came out to be $42,920 with a lifetime cost of $2,188,930. The state was ranked 48 for out-of-pocket costs ($3343) and financial opportunity cost ($28,086) and ranked 50 for healthcare cost per smoker at $5446.

50. Massachusetts

Massachusetts was ranked the most expensive healthcare cost per smoker at $5607 annually. The state was also ranked 49 for out-of-pocket costs and financial opportunity cost, making annual total cost per smoker $43,319 and lifetime costs on average to be $2,209,285.

51. New York

New York is ranked to be the most expensive for a smoker. Annual total cost for smokers in New York are $45,694 and lifetime costs are $2,330,381. The state had the most expensive out-of-pocket costs ($3811) and financial opportunity cost ($32,011) per smoker and was ranked 47 for healthcare cost per smoker.