By Gus Saltonstall
The price of eggs has been in the news lately.
Specifically, the jump in the price of a dozen large white eggs. The average price nationwide for a dozen white large eggs in October of 2023 was $2.07, according to AP News. In December of 2024, that price had risen to $4.15.
The price of a dozen eggs went up 14 percent nationwide in a one-month period during this most recent November to December, CBS News reported.
The main catalyst for the jump in egg prices, along with the continued rise of inflation, is the ongoing outbreak of bird flu, otherwise known as the H5N1 virus.
The outbreak of the virus, which began in 2022, killed more than 79.3 million chickens in 2022 and 2023, according to CBS News. Unfortunately, the outbreak has continued to worsen, as more than 13.2 million commercial egg-laying hens had to be killed in the month of December 2024 alone, due to bird flu, CBS added.
On Friday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered the closure of roughly 80 live bird markets in the state in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus.
With less supply, the prices of getting eggs from farms to grocery stores has risen, including the price customers have to pay.
West Side Rag decided to see how much a dozen eggs cost at different stores throughout the Upper West Side.
At each neighborhood grocer, we found the cheapest price we could for both a dozen large white and brown eggs. We did not include organic eggs, but at Zabar’s, organic was the only option on Friday.
Here are the Upper West Side grocers ranked from the most to the least expensive on Friday for a dozen large white eggs:
- H-Mart (210 Amsterdam): White Eggs ($9.99), Brown Eggs ($10.99)
- Pioneer Supermarket (289 Columbus Avenue): White Eggs ($9.99), Brown Eggs ($9.99)
- Zabar’s (2245 Broadway): White Eggs ($8.49), Brown Eggs ($9.98)
- Whole Foods (808 Columbus Avenue): White Eggs ($7.99), Brown Eggs ($8.99)
- West Side Market (2840 Broadway): White Eggs ($6.99), Brown Eggs ($6.99)
- Key Foods (530 Amsterdam): White Eggs ($6.79), Brown Eggs ($8.99)
- Citarella (2135 Broadway): White Eggs ($6.49), Brown Eggs ($7.79)
- Fairway (2131 Broadway): White Eggs ($5.89), Brown Eggs ($6.49)
- Trader Joe’s (2073 Broadway): White Eggs ($3.49), Brown Eggs ($3.49)
Trader Joe’s had far and away the most affordable eggs West Side Rag found on the Upper West Side. On the other end, H-Mart and Pioneer were the most expensive by more than a dollar.
It appears that other locals have discovered the price difference at Trader Joe’s, as the eggs at the 72nd Street outpost were completely sold out as of 11 a.m. on Friday.
A Trader Joe’s cashier told the Rag that eggs selling out has been an ongoing issue over the past month, and that the store has now put a maximum on all buyers, as some customers were previously trying to take advantage of the prices and buy eggs in bulk.
He added that you can also call the store and ask them to hold a carton of eggs for you to come pick up.
Whole Foods on West 97th Street and Columbus Avenue was also running low on eggs on Friday.
“We are currently experiencing difficulty sourcing eggs that meet our strict animal standards,” a sign on the egg fridge read.
The Upper West Side Whole Foods is also asking customers to limit their egg purchases to three cartons per shopper.
Zabar’s and H-Mart looked to be running low on their egg inventory on Friday, while Citarella, Fairway, and West Side Market were all nicely stocked.
We did stop into two delis, one on 73rd Street and Columbus Avenue and another on 79th Street and Amsterdam Avenue. In both cases, the store only had jumbo large white eggs for sale, which cost $12.99 and $13.99, respectively.
The Rag was not able to make it to Morton Williams or Gristedes, but if readers could let us know the prices of a dozen eggs at those stores, it would be much appreciated.
UPDATE: Saturday, February 8 at 10 p.m.: While West Side Rag did not see this price when we visited the 97th Street Whole Foods on Friday, we’ve received multiple comments and emails that an Upper West Side Whole Foods was selling a dozen large eggs for between $5 and $7. The tips did not specify if it was the Whole Foods on 97th Street or at Columbus Circle.
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Shopping at Trader Joe’s and living in a Mitchell-Lama apartment and taking the subway really insulates you from the bad financial news you hear all the time about housing and gas and eggs.
High quality brown eggs have been $4+ per half dozen for years; this isn’t a major change in price at the highend of the egg market.
The Zabar’s pricing would never have happened when M. Klein ran/owned part of the store.
Shopping at TraderJoe’s is a pain (the lines, the lines) and I live near the West 72nd Street one.
The Amish market has excellent eggs for $7/dozen, they are very good quality for the price, and the owner is so amazingly nice. Let’s try to support him.
I’m unfamiliar with the Amish market – is it what’s coming up on google as, literally, “amish market” at 50th and 9th? I’d love to check it out
97th and Broadway.
Is the Amish Market paying PayRoll taxes?
Wasn’t he criminally charged for not paying?
Don’t start buying the organic brown eggs like Nellie’s or Vital Farms, because they taste so much better you won’t be able to go back. All eggs are not the same.
True, all eggs are not the same. I only buy eggs like Nellie’s and Nature’s Yoke (available at Key Food) that have the “Certified Humane” label, and meet decent Animal Care Standards. Worth the price on principle, and yes, the taste happens to be a lot better.
Why are brown eggs more expensive? There’s nothing different except the color! 🙃
JoJo,
Because they generally taste better.
Correct, they are chocolate eggs.
Fresh Direct (grocery delivery service) has had eggs for $4-5 (and more for organic, small farm, etc), pretty perpetually.
The trader Joe eggs are cheaper because you can’t take the escalator which has parts on back order from China – so they’re cutting everyone a deal. At least, that’s what one random worker there explained to me.
But it’s the same price at other Trader Joe’s locations, even ones without escalators (or with working escalators). But that broken escalator is indeed a pain.
Upper West Siders are the biggest and loudest complainers in the city. Trader Joe’s has an elevator. Be patient and use it.
You missed the sarcasm. The “random worker” was gold
The last time I saw eggs at Trader Joes was in October.
This is such “boots on the ground” reporting.
Organic eggs r 16 dollars at gristedes on 8th ave
Ah Gristedes. Their prices for everything in the store is ridiculous.
I literally walk right past Gristedes and shop farther away, not only bc of their ridiculous prices, but bc of the politics of Mr. Catsamitidis, the owner.
The politics of Mr. Catsamatidis (who owns the NY County Republican Party by installing his daughter, Andrea, as chairman and who finances the county party also) ARE why the prices at Gristedes are and have long been outrageously and exploitatively high.
Several years ago, when he requested a reference for a skilled, licensed health care aide whom I knew, he balked at paying her the $25 hour fee she was asking.
The Trader Joe’s on Columbus and 93rd also had no eggs on Friday afternoon when I went at 3 pm
True. They have been out of eggs every time I’ve been in there in the last two weeks – I am usually not there first thing in the morning, so it could be the had some and ran out.
Fresh Direct has more affordable eggs too – $4.69 for a dozen local organic large brown eggs. Right now looks like earliest delivery is in 6 days though, but usually you can get them more quickly.
That 6 day delivery window….is long! Sounds as if they are hoping a supply issue might improve next week. I would not assume those eggs will arrive as promised.
We order from FD regularly — started during the pandemic and now do because they have excellent produce, excellent customer service, not terrible prices
They’ve had eggs, at their regular prices, so far, the entire time. Some go out of stock but they say clearly like ‘in stock after 2/12’ or whatever.
What about Brooklyn Fare and Jubilee? Anyone know?
Just FreshDirectLocal Organic Large Brown Eggs
current price$4.69/ea
Vital FarmsPasture-Raised Organic Large Eggs
current price$10.99/ea
At least two vendors at the Sunday greens market sell eggs.
Saturday Tucker Square market (66th and Bway-Columbus) has two vendors with eggs for $8 and $9 per dozen large or extra large. Usually brown. They sell out very early these Saturdays. The eggs from Knoll Crest are fresh and delicious. Have not tried the Stony Mountain eggs. I did ask them today how their flocks and eggs were. They said they didn’t have many eggs because it is still cold, which is winter normal, but otherwise everything was healthy.
https://delishably.com/dairy/How-to-buy-the-healthiest-eggs
Thanks, that was interesting. I’d heard some of it but learned more about all the terms used, like cage-free v pastured,, esp from the video. Farmers market for me! Funny, however, that the article is filed under “dairy”. Eggs are not “dairy”. “Eggs & Dairy” traditionally were listed together as an area ina store for chilled items (eggs actually don’t have to be chilled – at least, not until they are chilled. Thereafter you want to keep them that way.) But as we city people sometimes need reminding, “dairy” means milk products from cows, sheep and goats. Milk, butter, cheese, yogurts, cream etc.
Hey, what about Barzini’s? I’ll bet their eggs are really cheap now!
You can get a dozen organic eggs at a farmers market fir $9.
Trader Joe’s on 93rd and Columbus runs out pretty quickly. I went on Monday at 3pm and there was a sign up saying “sorry we’re all out.” I asked the cashier when they were getting more. She said “we get a new shipment everyday, but you need to be here by 8am because we sell out by 9:30am.” I retuned at 8am on Tuesday and they were fully stocked, with a dozen people there taking their pick.
Lots of eggs at Target for 4.99.
A dozen Vital Farms organic eggs at Westerly Market in midtown this week were $16.99!
I’d rather go vegan!
Fortunately, the soaring price of eggs has zero impact on my finances. I used to truly, deeply enjoy eating eggs, prepared in nearly every style invented — scrambled, hard-boiled, fried, omelettes, over-easy, Eggs Benedict, huevos rancheros, you name it. (No, not raw!) But that was many years ago.
There are three factors currently affecting the price of eggs, and they explain why we can get eggs for $7.99, while people in “Middle America” are paying almost double that.
First, and most significant but also most temporary, is the bird flu, which has already led to the necessary slaughtering of over 150 million egg-laying chickens, and may lead to more.. The second is “sourcing.” The number and dependability of sourcing, even in the absence of the bird flu, helps determine supply and demand, and thus pricing. The third is that chickens lay fewer eggs in the Winter, so supply is lower in Winter months at all times.
What is even more concerning is that the bird flu has now “crossed over” into cows, and it is affecting raw milk, which has killed at least two people already. It even found its way into our bald eagle population and at least one bald eagle had to be killed. (Can you imagine the outcry if the bird flu all but eliminates one of our country’s symbols?)
Thankfully, bird flu has not gone airborne, or crossed over to humans. If it does, we could easily have the next epidemic, or even pandemic, sooner than later.
Buy a chicken.
My wife won’t let me keep it in the apartment : ( I’ve proposed it many times lol
Old Woody Allen joke: Guy tells a friend his brother thinks he’s a chicken. Friend asks, why don’t you take your brother to a psychiatrist. Guy says, can’t. We need the eggs.
Heard on the radio that with the number of commercial flocks deeply affected by culling approaching 10%, the wait time for receiving new chicks is into 2026!
I paid $11.99 for a dozen jumbo eggs at Key Foods last week.
Please read my relevant comment in this thread. Key’s is a rip-off on the same awful level as Gristedes.
How are you comparing these? The prices depend on whether they are organic, pasture-raised or not. Trader Joes does not sell organic products so naturally they are the cheapest.
Some people just want eggs, and don’t care if they’re organic or pasture-raised or anything else.
Most of the stores listed here sell regular no-frills eggs, at the prices listed.
Trader Joe’s does sell organic products. They cost more than non-organic, but still less than elsewhere. I think the list in the article shows us that places like Trader Joe’s and Fairway continue to sell some staples like eggs as “loss leaders” – i.e. below their wholesale cost, as a tactic to get people in the door in hopes they will do more grocery shopping there. From this list I’m guessing that HMart is not using that tactic.
Brooklyn Fare on West End had a dozen Land O’Lakes large brown eggs priced from $5.99 . and on Saturday, it still had many were under $7 per dozen https://shop.brooklynfare.com/categories/93946/products
Eggs are between $4-$6 for a dozen at Whole Foods. Just bought some there today and spent $5.29.
Who remembers when the health of the economy was measured by the cost of a box of cereal? Now it’s eggs.
I just bought a dozen Extra Large organic brown eggs at Whole Foods for $5.19. I happened to get there when they were putting them out, so I got lucky – but they did not cost $8.99 as stated in the article. I did see cartons of 1.5 dozen eggs there for $8.99, so perhaps that is what the quoted price was referring to. – but that was 18 eggs, not 12.
This article is dated Feb. 7; I write this on Feb. 8. On Feb. 5 I purchased one dozen EXTRA large eggs at Key Food at 530 Amsterdam Ave costing $11.00. the Large ones, one size down were around $10.60 approximately. This article states as of Feb. 7 their cost was $6.79. How could your figures as pertains to this market be so wildly off base? Could my eggs at this store have rise $$3.80 in 2 days? Either your article is absurd or else something else is very awry. I am well aware the Keys Market I very reluctantly patronize is outrageously overpriced on almost everything.
Yes support the Amish market on the West side of Broadway at 97. His eggs taste great and make wonderful cakes. Have used them for years!
To avoid confusion with the Amish Market on 50th St., the name of the place you cite is Millport Dairy. It’s run by a real Amish farmer. https://nypost.com/2024/05/18/us-news/amish-farmer-commutes-each-day-to-bring-products-to-his-nyc-store/
No eggs at either Trader Joes or Whole Foods
The sign on for the Omny card is confusing and wait times to talk with a real person for help can be long
What does your second sentence have to do with your first (or the article)?
How about keeping hens in your balcony? One egg a day to consume in your household. It’s organic.
Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein are so pissed you scooped them on this.
Fresh Direct
large brown organic eggs is $4.69 but earliest delivery isn’t until Friday
all other eggs are sold out
Gus, on Friday 2/7, I paid $5.89 for a dozen Jumbo Eggland’s Best at Morton Williams on Broadway at 69th street. All the other brands in the same store cost more than $7-$8 per dozen (any size and color).
I view the soaring price of eggs as an efficient, free-market solution to this urgent, pervasive problem: https://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-food/factory-farming/chickens/
I was lucky enough to spend the past two weeks in Maui, and there was not an egg to be found. People were snapping pictures of the empty shelves in the stores. But one day I was walking into a Walmart (I know, it felt like an out of body experience) and I saw a guy walking out with a carton of eggs. I went straight to the cooler, and found the worker finishing restocking and grabbed the second to last carton. I felt like I hit the lottery! They may be pricey here, but at least we can still buy them:)
How about at Dags?
I buy at the farmers’ markets. I wouldn’t dream of buying eggs at a supermarket. It should be farm-to-table food.
I just bought 18 eggs (smaller size) at Jubilee Market (Freedom Place) for $8. I don’t care whether the eggs are jumbo or not.
I just paid $6.99 for Large Brown Organic Free Range at Whole Foods. It was the only choice available. I noticed a very good supply yesterday at Zabars but the were marked $10.49.