The convenience stores around here rotate the name brands for around $3.25 a pack. A carton after tax is $36. Still expensive, but better than $45 and $50. You have to change brands periodically to stay in the low range. My wife still smokes. I can't seem to get her to switch to vaping, although she pulls out her 510 from time to time. She says my eGo/Boge cartos are harsh. To me they are smooth. I'm thinking of getting her a KR808.
Sounds like my situation Dave

; except just outside of Philadelphia, cartons run ~$55 to $60.
ETA:
5-6.50- orange county, CA
Seems strange that
California wouldn't have one the higher prices on cigarettes
What A Pack Of Cigarettes Costs, State By State
By Nate Hopper | June 15, 2011
51. West Virginia: $4.74
50. Louisiana: $4.82
49. North Dakota: $4.91
48. Kentucky: $4.97
47. Idaho: $4.99
46. California: $5.19
45. Alabama: $5.27
44. Georgia: $5.29
43. South Carolina: $5.42
41-42. Indiana, Wyoming: $5.50
40. North Carolina: $5.51
38-39. Nebraska, Virginia: $5.55
37. Tennessee: $5.56
36. Missouri: $5.58
35. Oregon: $5.59
34. Mississippi: $5.75
33. New Hampshire: $5.87
32. Nevada: $5.95
30-31. Arkansas, Colorado: $5.96
29. Montana: $5.99
26-28. Delaware, Iowa, Kansas: $6.00
25. South Dakota: $6.03
24. Texas: $6.07
23. Florida: $6.08
22. Oklahoma: $6.19
21. Ohio: $6.22
20. Minnesota: $6.53
19. Maryland: $6.70
18. Pennsylvania: $6.80
17. Arizona: $6.87
16. New Mexico: $6.88
15. Michigan: $6.90
14. Utah: $7.22
13. Maine: $7.97
12. Washington, D.C.: $7.99
11. Wisconsin: $8.11
10. Vermont: $8.23
9. Connecticut: $8.25
8. Massachusetts: $8.30
7. New Jersey: $8.35
6. Rhode Island: $8.60
5. Alaska: $9.14
4. Illinois: $9.67
3. Hawaii: $9.73
2. Washington: $9.89
1. New York: $11.90
Methodology: Prices were obtained by calling a gas station in each state's most populous city and asking the clerk for the price of a pack of Marlboro Reds with tax. Memphis, Tenn., was toughest (nine phone calls). The gas station in Milwaukee, Wis., had the only employee who ended the conversation with "have a good one."
Also:
http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0202.pdf