Yesterday as my husband was leaving to go run errands, I asked him if he would mind stopping by the store to pick up a gallon of milk and a dozen eggs.
He did.
As he was taking the carton of eggs out of the bag when he got home I asked him how much they were.
He said he paid $5.59 for a dozen large eggs.
WHAT!? You’re kidding me, right? How much did you really pay?
And then he went to say that no, he wasn’t joking, and that the only other option was a dozen of teeny tiny {he said quail size eggs} for $5.19 a dozen.
I couldn’t believe it.
$5.59 for a dozen eggs. That’s about $0.47 PER EGG!!!
What in the world is going on? And seriously, at this point, I wonder how much a dozen eggs will be going for this time next year.
What was the last price you paid for a dozen eggs? And if you’re lucky enough to have chickens and are selling your eggs, how much are you charging these days?
Curious minds want to know.
~Mavis
Sharon says
This has been an ongoing problem for at least 6 months around the country, supposedly due to avian flu and subsequent kill off of chickens.
Gwenn says
It has been eye opening for a lot of people. More people are now buying local eggs or brow/free-range eggs because they are cheaper than traditional white eggs. People are also discovering that not all eggs taste the same.
At my local Aldi’s (eastern WI) the white store brand eggs were $4.99/dozen yesterday. The organic, free-range brown eggs were $4.49 a dozen, and the regular free-range brown eggs were $4.29 a dozen. Eggs at the farmers market or from a farm stand are often less than $4/dozen
At the chain grocery stores brown eggs (even organic) are often more than $1/dozen less than the store brand white eggs.
Times they are a changing.
Beth B says
I bought two dozen eggs for $3.00 about a week and a half ago. They were on sale from their normal price of $1.99/dozen. I live outside of STL on the IL side, and we have a store called Ruler Foods that is owned by Kroger and is very similar to an ALDI. Ruler and ALDI tend to have the best prices for groceries.
Elle says
My chicken lady is selling for $3/dz. The Farmer’s Market folks are selling for $5-6. And these are all free-range organics. I think the local grocer is $4.99.
Jamie says
My chicken lady is also selling for $3/dozen. I have been buying them from her for almost 2 years and the price has always been the same… although I do give the girls a holiday bonus of $20 that goes towards any coup repairs or refresh in bedding. I appreciate their eggs and they appreciate new, clean bedding.
Deb says
I paid 3.69 at Aldi last week. I’m very thankful to have friends with hens that give me eggs when they are laying in exchange for pet sitting, etc.
Mel says
We pay $4 a dozen and have for years, but those are local, cage free, etc. eggs that are delivered to our door.
We never sold our chickens’ eggs because we’d need a permit (and also I think we knew it was never going to offset the cost of feed, etc to charge for them), so we gave those away for free when we had extra.
Jamie B. says
Yeap, I also paid$5.59 at Hannaford. Crazy!
Erin says
I just saw this morning that Walmart is charging $6.63 for the same organic eggs I bought in the summer for $4.29. And Costco was *completely out* of eggs when I went mid-November.
Jennifer says
I bought an 18 CT at Wal-Mart yesterday. Last week they were $6.46. Yesterday, they were $6.96. Dh’s latest food kick is a fried egg white and Swiss cheese sandwich that is then toasted like a grilled cheese. It’s still a cheap meal, but idk for how much longer. Fwiw, A dozen of Eggland’s Best is just pennies more than the store brand dozen.
Sarah says
I have my own chickens and when I have extra my neighbor buys them. I charge them $3 for a dozen. But any new customers I may get, the cost will go to $4. Feed has gotten crazy expensive here
Renee says
South Shore of Massachusetts 1 dozen large eggs $6.49 at Stop & Shop $3.49 at Whole Foods. I have no idea why but Whole Foods has had the lowest priced eggs around.
Deborah says
Large white cage-free eggs were $3.29 yesterday at Trader Joe’s. I saw them for over $4 at Aldi the previous day. I live in a Chicago suburb.
Nancy Settel says
I bought yesterday at Walmart Englands Best 18 of them for 7.89 in Pa. I was shocked.
Julie says
The most recent price I saw at Aldi was $4.08/dozen. I stopped buying eggs last July. I have some frozen in the freezer that I bought before prices went high that I randomly use but otherwise I use baking substitutes like unflavored geletain or mayonnaise in dishes and make recipes that eliminate the eggs such as the Wacky cake recipe.
Brianna says
And the price of mayonnaise has gotten bad too. I am thankful only 2 of 5 in our house like mayonnaise, but when I bought it last I was baffled at the cost. I only buy it 2x a year or so.
Tammy says
About two weeks ago, I bought three 18 packs of eggs at Kroger in Charlottesville, VA for 3.19 each. Today they’re 5.19. Wishing I’d bought more!
Anna says
Couldn’t believe my eyes at Piggly Wiggly (southern Wisconsin) a week ago – $7.29 for 18 non-organic, large eggs!
sarah says
To put it in perspective I used to pay $7.50 for a 50lb bag of layer feed. Just picked up the last load and was charged $15.87 per bag. I had to up my prices or I would lose money on every dozen. I’m now at $4.50 per dozen. Everyone along the chain has to make something so consider farmer cost, processor, warehouse, and store.
Mrs. C. says
My layer feed is $25.99 for 50 pounds now.
Kristina says
I was thinking this. I don’t know about eggs and livestock, but I grow tree nuts, and our costs have gone up exponentially this year. I broke even in 2022, and expect to operate at a loss in 2023. Farmers gotta feed ourselves too, lol.
Sam says
Minnesota Kwik Trip $3, Walmart was $4.49, neither cage free. I still find them a place in my kitchen, but flax seed eggs in baking muffins has been a help.
Tisha says
The last I checked, 5 dozen eggs at Costco was $13-$14 in New Mexico, limit 2. The local Kroger chain has 18 ct in the neighborhood of $5. I imagine that a lot of the increase is due to the avian flu and the widespread drought affecting feeds. The question I ponder is whether this is just a blip or a sign of more difficulties ahead.
Cindy C says
I have seen them at Woodman’s (Wisconsin) for $6.19/Dozen. Ended up purchasing at the Kwik Trip for $3.49.
Robin in WI says
Hello — we shop at Woodman’s in Green Bay. Pay $4-$5 a dozen for organic eggs from humanely raised chickens that can go outside. We also buy from a friend with backyard chickens, $4 a dozen.
Mrs. C. says
We have chickens but they aren’t laying much right now. FYI, their feed used to be $15.00 a 50-lb bag, and now it’s $25.99 and climbing.
Lori says
I’m lucky to receive free eggs from friends that raise chickens. Usually in maybe January or February I’ll have to buy some if the chickens slow down production. Last time I checked I think a dozen eggs here was 3.99. You have to admit though that even at the price you paid, 49 cents, it’s the cheapest protein available.
Pauline in Upstate NY says
In Upstate NY Wegmans 18-pack is currently $7.03, or $13.00 if you buy 2. Ouch… We gave up our home flock a couple years ago but we have a neighbor who sells them for $5/dozen which seems fair to me. They will also barter for things like homemade granola or homegrown butternut squash (harvested about 50 of those this year, so have plenty to swap!). I actually thought about getting some more birds, but then I checked the price of feed now, and the cost of feeding chicks for 5 months until they start laying, and the (winter) work needed. All of that made the current price seem worth sticking out. But if this is a serious trend, I may feel differently in the spring!
Lynne says
I paid $4.19 for a dozen large free-range brown eggs at Lidl yesterday. There was not much available in the large eggs area and that was the lowest price. On the plus side, their butter was 2 pounds for $4, and chocolate chips were $1.49 a bag! I’m on Long Island, NY.
Jamie says
Yes!!! That much and our Costco was completely out of eggs this week. I paid almost $8 for 18 eggs this week : (
Shelly says
I paid $5 for a dozen at a local farm stand. I get a lot of my produce there. Since I’m in a fairly rural area, it’s the halfway point between the $12/dozen eggs (that’s not a typo) in my tiny local store and the $3/dozen at the big supermarket.
Rosemary Calhoun says
I paid 7.49 for 2 dozen organic eggs at Costco. We had chickens that were laying about 1 dozen eggs every 2 days. When we had extra, we gave them away to friends for free. Then some possums found out about the chickens and killed them. We now have 6 more chickens, but they are still too young to lay eggs (they should start laying around the end of January) and we have installed an electric fence around them. Possums still come into our yard, and we have been catching them in a trap but at least they haven’t gotten to the chickens. I will be very glad when the chickens start laying!
Patti Vanderbloemen says
The last 6 months has shown a price increase on everything where I live (Northern Virginia), especially fresh foods. This morning, I purchased 18 store-brand, large eggs for $6.19. Egg lands Best was $7.39.
Lea Ann H. says
When I bought a pack of 5 dozen last week, (Eastern Washington), they were just under $21. A few months ago, the same purchase would have been under $13.
Diana says
East of ATL, Ga here and I’ve been paying $5 per dozen for a couple of years now at the grocery store. I heard someone I know say they just paid $7. There used to be a grower in the area and I would pay around $3, but they went out of business.
Brianna says
I paid $3.14/dozen large brown Land O Lakes eggs yesterday. Limit of 2. I feel more bad about all the extra plastic packaging than the egg cost. I have been paying $4.50 or so for a dozen. There were plenty of signs apologizing for the inventory and costs and limits on eggs. Eggs are becoming a novelty around here for meals and usage.
Ellen Wagner says
I paid $10 for a dozen eggs from a farm up the road from me, just a few weeks ago (their standard price). The farm’s owner has lost a lot of hens to a dedicated mountain lion mother, last seen leaping the fence with 2 chickens in her mouth! I pay this gladly because that’s what it takes for a very small farm to keep chickens and sell a few dozen eggs every week or so. I’m in the Front Range of Colorado; all our local farms at the Farmers’ Markets and their own farm stands charge pretty high prices for organic/biodynamic produce, eggs, and meat produced in small amounts. But what’s too high a price to pay to keep local farmers surviving? I also buy from grocery stores to balance out costs, but the freshness of local produce is unbeatable.
Katie C says
I buy pasture-raised eggs (usually Vital Farms brand). For a family of four, we don’t go through many at all. I used to be able to get them for $4.50/dozen, but they’re now up to $6.99. I moved from Vancouver, WA area to rural Utah recently and the prices seem the same. When I can find the 18-count package, I buy it as it’s $8.99.
Margo says
Albertsons in San Diego, Ca is $6.99 for 18 eggs. Prior to the recent crazy prices, eggs at our local farmers market were over $10 a dozen. No thank you. I understand why, but I just can’t hand over that much money for a dozen eggs. We sometimes shop at the military commissary and I think I paid $5.99 for a 18 last week.
Bec says
I nearly had a heart attack yesterday when I saw that one brand of eggs at Whole Foods was $11+ for 18 eggs. They had our son’s specialty milk on sale so went to stock up because it’s been hard to find. I ended up paying $3.39 for a dozen.
I paid almost $7 for 2 dozen eggs at Costco two weeks ago. The shelves were looking bare then so hoping that they will have some when I go today (and not at a huge price increase). My youngest recently started solids and will eat a whole scrambled egg on her own so we’re feeling the crunch with these price increases!
Susan H. says
Learning to limit the use of eggs…eggs used to be the cheap source of protein. One egg substitute is the liquid from a can of garbanzo beans. I experimented and it whips like egg white and I made meringues adding toasted coconut and sugar! Folks couldn’t tell…I paid 3.99 for a day here in Ohio this week.
Diana says
We have had our own chickens for years. We give away our extra eggs to our friends and neighbors. We make our own mayonnaise and do a lot of baking so we use a lot of eggs! I love having chickens so they can eat all of our food scraps and reward me with compost!
Christie says
I fear it’s only going to get worse. $4.99 here. Only good news is I saw gas is now $2.99/gallon.
Cathy says
I bought 4 dozen at Sam’s Club last night (the limit) at $2.99/doz. Trader Joe’s was out of eggs.
Walking around the store, getting sticker shock, and planning adaptions of my meals are my new form of entertainment.
Stacie says
$4.82 for regular up to 6.81 for organic eggs. Gas is $2.45. All prices are for southern Texas.
Jennifer H. says
I’m in the Atlanta suburbs. I paid $4.49 at Sprouts today for 18 cage free eggs – their own brand. Across the street at Kroger 18 regular Kroger brand eggs were $5.69 and at Publix one dozen were $5.99.
Jeri says
5.19 for an 18ct in central Nebraska
Melonie K. says
Southern Arizona here – $8.19 for 18count of free-range, organic at our local “green” co-op about two weeks ago – comes out to $0.46 each. I actually have to go back for some other things tomorrow, I’ll have to check the price to see if it’s gone up since.
Mary Margaret Ripley says
Yes, $5.39 a dozen for eggs at Save-A-Lot here in Western NY
Helen says
Paid £3.80 for 10 free range organic in Sainsbury’s UK. Very limited choice due to bird flu in the country.
Linda Sand says
Our local Target in the Minneapolis/St Paul area is advertising store brand large eggs at $2.99 a dozen and Eggland’s best at $3.89 a dozen but I have not been in the store recently to see about quantities available.
Jennifer Beyer says
Before Thanksgiving, I got a dozen large eggs for $3.19. Last week at the same store they were $4.19. My mother just scored 18 eggs for $3.99 on special. Eggs are one of our “cheap” meals but I might have to reconsider if they get too expensive.
Loy says
Egg prices are a little better here in central WA. Safeway has a dozen eggs at $1.89 for their Just for You card customers using a digital coupon, no limit.
Sue says
In Minnesota, I bought 1 dozen eggs for $4.25 at Aldi. When I checked 5 days later… last Friday, eggs were $4.75. Yes bird flu.
Kippy says
Close to $6 was the lowest price at the sometimes expensive local grocers. I visibly
paleddid not buy them. Went home and ordered eggs from Kroger one dozen $2.29. We are near Seattle
Pamela Sheppard says
Yesterday……$4.89 in S. Jersey for a dozen white, no-frills store brand large eggs.
Michelle S. says
I bought a dozen Happy Eggs at Vons yesterday and they were on sale for $5.99, which was $1 off the usual price. The Vital Farms eggs were $8.99/ dozen. The average price at our farmer’s market right now is either 8 or 9 bucks a dozen.
Jolinda Ruggiero says
Bought 18 eggs at Shop Rite in Bristol Ct for $9.59 today!!
SueD says
$7.49 at BJ’s for 2 dozen large organic eggs mid-November. ALDI by me today was out of all eggs. I wish I could keep a few hens where I live….
Richelle says
Supply and demand. With the reduced number of healthy chickens due to transmission of avian flu from wild birds to domesticated stock, there are fewer eggs.
Vy says
We’re out traveling on the Washington coast and stopped at a small local supermarket … $7.59 a dozen!! I looked around and found a very local brand (which is preferable anyway) for $4.95 in the back. But even that is horrible!
Kathy says
Paid $3.39 a dozen at aldis
Carol says
I’m not baking much so I only bought a half-dozen @ $3.00. Couldn’t believe they were fifty cents per egg. Oklahoma
Melinda says
I rarely buy eggs due to my son’s egg allergy, but I know the prices have risen drastically here in Northern Virginia. A dozen eggs were .85 at Aldi in the spring. They’re around $4 now. I just looked at the local Walmart, $4.73/12 $7.02/18, $22.96/5 dozen box, all large eggs, Walmart brand. Egglands best large eggs are $6.27/18, $4.27/12.
Karon says
I pay $6.00 a dozen for farm fresh chicken eggs, live on an island in the San Juan’s in Washington state. ( Just a short while ago they were $5.00).
Cecile says
I think for your 2023 Goals you should add building a chicken coop to your HH’s honey do list! We get eggs by the flat at our local farmers market and I believe Hubs said he pays $9.00 for them (2.5 dozen)
Heidi N says
Up to $5.79 a dozen here in Southern Colorado! It really is highway robbery.
Cindy Brick says
Up there in the Denver area too, Heidi…
Two weeks ago, I bought a dozen large (cheapest kind) at Safeway for $5.00 — and thought that was outrageous.
Last night, the same eggs were $5.98 a dozen, and there weren’t many left. Today, only a small number of the most expensive eggs were around. The rest of the case was EMPTY.
If the chicken people are dealing with avian flu, at least they’re getting big bucks for their henfruit.
Mary says
My husband came home all annoyed yesterday because eggs were a little over $2 a dozen. He does the shopping. We are in Salem, Oregon. A friend was selling her Farm eggs for $4.
Poppy K says
I’m lucky enough to buy my eggs from friends who have chickens and they charge me $4/doz. I needed extra for Christmas deviled eggs and had to buy 2 doz. at the market today and I bought cage-free/pasture raised and they were $5.39/doz. (on sale).
Marlene says
I buy mine from a local farmer, they are organic, at $3.25 per dozen. He has even raised his since summer.
Anne says
I live in a suburb of Philly and today paid $3.69 per dozen for eggs at Aldi. Last week I bought a two dozen pack at Costco for five dollars. I should’ve bought more since I was doing a lot of baking and cooking for the holidays. I am having such sticker shock over eggs it is crazy! Easter 2021 – I remember getting eggs for $.99 a dozen, I don’t know why all the sudden they’re triple the price or more.
Sue says
In Minnesota, trader Joe’s had cage free for $2,99 per dozen
Gina says
THANK YOU BIRD FLU! UGH! I bought a dozen just yesterday here in South Dakota for $5.29. I really am considering raising chickens now and I live in town!
Alecia Loveless says
Large eggs were $7.99 a dozen at our local Shaws Sunday night so I resorted to going to Dollar General which i absolutely hated to do but they were $3.95 a dozen for large eggs there when less than a year ago they had been $1.00 a dozen at DG.
Jules says
I get them from a friend for $3/dozen. If I can’t wait, I pick them up at winco for just under $2/dozen (Oregon)
Sharon Sorrels says
I think an avian virus has infected many birds which lowers the number of eggs available. It is not affecting the meat. Time to search for recipes without eggs or use substitutes.
Tracy T says
Well i stopped by Costco yesterday and there was NOT A SINGLE EGG to be had. None. But they are normally 6.99 for 18 pack.
LDA says
Here in northern KY, I usually shop at Kroger. Their Simple Truth brand, cage free, large eggs were $3.99/dozen this week.
Jenn says
$5.99 in Co last night and due to frigid storm our store was completely sold out. The cost of eggs will keep rising due to demands of cage free eggs. By January 2023 all eggs sold in the US must have humane homes for their flocks. Suppliers are having to reconfigure their coops to meet the standards set by(?) They have two years to meet the requests… that costs the farmer money so they raise the costs. ( family member works in the food delivery business)
Jerilea says
It’s going to get much, much worse. This is just the beginning. We raise chickens and sell them for $3. Last year I told my husband that we needed to sell them from the driveway for $3 and he thought I was crazy. Now we’re cheaper than the grocery store last I looked. The cost of chicken feed and all animal feed is going up and the cost of eggs and all animal foods will go up. If you can, learn to waterglass eggs, pickle them to preserve them, learn to process meat for long term preservation. Stock up when it’s cheaper/on sale….it will go up a lot more.
Jerilea says
We sell our chicken’s eggs for $3….not the chickens.
debbie in alaska says
Organic free range brown eggs range from $4 to $7 here in Alaska … I usually get them for $4 something
Terry M. says
The local grocery store is terrible, asking over $5 per dozen, UNLESS they are the Eggland’s Best eggs, which are priced at $3.85 and have held steady at that price the last year. My local Kwik Trip (gas/convenience store) has eggs this month for $2.99 per dozen.
Torry says
My DH (dear husband) paid $1.98 for a dozen large eggs in Tacoma, WA. I’m feeling very happy at this moment!
Mary P says
$1.82/dozen at Safeway in Tacoma.
Stephanie in Utah says
I’ve been paying $4.50 – $5.00 a dozen at my local grocery store, then I thought to look at Costco. $6 for 2 dozen extra large cage free eggs, yes, please! I heard later that Costco doesn’t always have eggs in stock these days.
Lisa says
For the last 6-7 years, I have bought local eggs from a few farming friends. For $3/dozen. People called me crazy early, when you could still buy them for .89/dozen at Aldi. Who’s crazy now? Not me! (besides, you can’t beat that kind of color and freshness)
Amber says
I bought 5 dozen eggs from Costco for about $12 at the beginning of December. The price is still the same, there. At my Aldi, they’re varying between $2-$3.50/dozen.