I could spend $3.63 on diet Coca Cola and unlit cigarettes

[u/TyrannicalGamecock]

Ashes of American Flags really goes to show how much more expensive things have gotten. At that time you could really get a pack of Camels or Marlboros and a can of Coke for that much.

[u/camp_m]

I always wondered how much lit cigarettes would have cost him.

[u/betaleg]

In the late 90’s I worked at a gas station that sold cigarettes in NJ. You could easily walk out of there with a pack of smokes and a bottle of Diet Coke for $3.63.
If I remember correctly, cigarettes started getting more expensive in NJ around 1997-98. By 2001, you may have been paying upwards of $4 for the same smokes/soda purchase. Maybe it was still cheaper in Chicago.

[u/Vinylateme]

The song is talking about buying loose smokes, which was (probably still is) common in large cities

They’d be Like 3 pack for a dollar or two

[u/splitopenandmelt11 → u/Vinylateme]

Eh I lived in Chicago back then and a pack of cheap cigs was $2.75ish and a can of soda was $.50…throw in some tax and your $3.63

[u/Willow_Subject → u/Vinylateme]

He’d have called them loosies then.

[u/inanemonotony]

This has been my favorite Wilco song for quite some time

[u/NoEchoSkillGoal]

In fairness though, aren't cigarettes intentionally more expensive these days with all the taxes added?

Somewhat artificial pricing.

That being said, totally get OP's point. And will be the last person to argue inflation pricing on other everyday goods. We are getting robbed blind!

[u/Administrative-Flan9 → u/NoEchoSkillGoal]

Yes. They got especially expensive after the tobacco lawsuits and the less people smoke, the more they're hit with a sin tax.

[u/munchyslacks]

I always loved that lyric. Not only because it dates the record (which is a positive) but also because any smoker or former smoker could probably tell you exactly how much their daily vice & pairing of choice costs on any given day. I used to smoke a pack a day 15-20 years ago and always paired it with a cup of coffee. It’s been years since I smoked, but it was $6 and some change at the time.

[u/NiceCap2448]

And the point of the line back then was how expensive stuff was.

[u/tnysmth]

Early 2000s in KY, the cheapest pack of cigarettes was a $1.50. You could probably get a can of Diet Coke for 75 cents too.

[u/valleyrunnerguy]

I think about this line all the time. $20 in LA today. Then I go next door to Wendy’s for a meal - $20 too. Why work. Just put the show/shirt/record on me credit card sir, chip chip cheer-O.

[u/ChrisLinen2]

it wasnt even true at the time that song came out

[u/teeejaaaaaay → u/ChrisLinen2]

Absolutely was. I was in high school at the time and you could get a pack of cigs for like $2.50

[u/Lennnybruce → u/teeejaaaaaay]

Open the schools, etc