On average, Americans are paying $2.09 for a dozen Grade A large eggs, based on the BLS data. That price reflects the most recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) data available as of August 2023. The CPI Consumer Price Index tracks prices for a basket of consumer goods and services over time.
In tracking egg price data, the CPI looks at average numbers by city, rather than state. Prices are based on the cost of a dozen eggs only and don’t take into account pricing for smaller or larger quantities of eggs sold, or pricing for different sizes of eggs. The CPI’s egg price data offers a snapshot of how egg prices have moved up or down over time. While prices increased sharply in the beginning of 2023, the average cost of a dozen eggs has since declined by more than half. Whether you live alone or are supporting a family, these types of fluctuations can impact your grocery budget.
It’s important to keep in mind that average reflects all prices from high to low, while median reflects the middle price. Median prices for eggs or other consumer goods and services may be higher than the average price.
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Average Cost of Eggs by State for 2023
If you’re interested in what is the average cost of a dozen eggs by state, you might be surprised at just how much prices can vary from one location to the next. The following table breaks down the average cost of a dozen eggs in all 50 states, according to pricing data from Instacart collected in December 2022. Note that the figures below were captured during the egg shortage, when prices were high, and may not reflect the latest CPI price data.
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Alabama
Cost for a dozen eggs: $6.12
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Alaska
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.61
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Arizona
Cost for a dozen eggs: $6.03
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Arkansas
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.95
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California
Cost for a dozen eggs: $6.05
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Colorado
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.77
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Connecticut
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.54
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Delaware
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.79
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District of Columbia
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.58
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Florida
Cost for a dozen eggs: $6.36
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Georgia
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.96
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Hawaii
Cost for a dozen eggs: $9.73
(Learn more at Home Affordability Calculator)
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Idaho
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.09
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Illinois
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.82
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indiana
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.33
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Iowa
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.44
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Kansas
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.41
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Kentucky
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.51
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Louisiana
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.59
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Maine
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.84
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Maryland
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.78
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Massachusetts
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.20
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Michigan
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.82
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Minnesota
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.10
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Mississippi
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.04
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Missouri
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.24
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Montana
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.46
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Nebraska
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.25
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Nevada
Cost for a dozen eggs: $6.07
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New Hampshire
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.91
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New Jersey
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.05
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New Mexico
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.65
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New York
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.37
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North Carolina
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.60
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North Dakota
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.83
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Ohio
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.39
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Oklahoma
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.92
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Oregon
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.81
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Pennsylvania
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.52
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Rhode Island
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.10
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South Carolina
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.00
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Tennessee
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.61
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Texas
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.43
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Utah
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.67
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Vermont
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.70
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Virginia
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.96
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Washington
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.91
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West Virginia
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.64
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Wisconsin
Cost for a dozen eggs: $4.78
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Wyoming
Cost for a dozen eggs: $5.84
Image Credit: DenisTangneyJr/istockphoto.
Where the Cost of Eggs Is Highest
As evidenced by the price data, some states are more expensive than others when it comes to what you’ll pay for a dozen eggs on average. In descending order, here are the 10 states that had the highest cost overall for a dozen eggs:
- Hawaii
- Florida
- Alabama
- Nevada
- California
- Arizona
- Georgia
- Wyoming
- Maine
- Colorado
In each of those states, shoppers paid $5.70 or more on average for a dozen eggs. Hawaii is the most expensive state to buy eggs, with the average cost of a dozen eggs nearing $10.
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Where the Cost of Eggs Is Lowest
Where is the average cost of a dozen eggs the cheapest? Shoppers paid the least for a dozen eggs in these states:
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Indiana
- Ohio
- Kansas
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Pennsylvania
- Alaska
- West Virginia
In these states, the average cost of eggs was below $5 per dozen. As you can see, most of these states are located in the central, southern, and eastern U.S., though Alaska is the outlier. Assuming food costs are lower overall in these states, the average grocery budget for a family of 5 is likely to be less compared to the states where eggs are more expensive.
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Why Did the Cost of Eggs Increase
The spike in egg prices that peaked in 2022 was largely fueled by scarcity. An outbreak of avian flu sent egg production into decline as more than 43 million laying hens were lost to the disease or depopulation efforts. With fewer eggs in supply but demand not easing, egg prices began to rise. Prices began to decline as egg inventory increased following the end of the outbreak.
Inflation can also be pointed to as a contributing factor to rising egg prices. In simple terms, inflation is a rise in prices for things consumers buy, like eggs and other household items. Knowing how to find the inflation rate and what’s considered to be a normal range matters for making the most of your money.
When inflation is higher, everything costs more and your money doesn’t go as far. A difference of a few cents in the price of a dozen eggs might not seem like much. But when everything else is going up in price too, and inflation doesn’t appear to be easing any time soon, it can take a serious toll on your wallet.
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When Will the Cost of Eggs Go Down
According to the CPI data, egg prices have declined from the peak they reached in January 2023. Again, that reflects the resumption of egg inventories to normal levels as well as an easing in the overall inflation rate. Of course, egg prices could rise again if there’s a repeat of the avian flu outbreak or if the decline in the inflation rate reverses course.
Monitoring prices for different goods and services can help you stay on top of your budget. Making and sticking to a spending and savings plan is one of the most basic steps for building wealth and increasing your net worth. Being able to measure your liquid net worth can give you an idea of how well you’re doing financially when it comes to accumulating assets and paying down debt.
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Tips on How to Shop for Cheap Eggs
Shopping for eggs on the cheap can save you money and make it easier to live below your means. Living below your means benefits you in a few ways. For one thing, you may be less reliant on credit cards to cover expenses if you always have extra cash in your budget. And for another, it can make it easier to adapt to economic changes that can affect your budget and spending.
With that in mind, here are a few quick tips to help you pay less for eggs.
- Shop the farmer’s market. Buying eggs locally from a farmer’s market vs. a supermarket could save you money if you’re able to find lower prices. You may even be able to work out a barter or trade with a local farmer or neighbor who has a backyard flock, which could allow you to get eggs for free.
- Choose store brands. Store-brand products, including eggs, typically cost less than name-brand ones. If you’re not partial to any one egg brand, you may save a little money by choosing your local store’s brand.
- Buy eggs in bulk. Buying in bulk could save you money if you’re paying a lower unit price per egg. But the catch is that you have to be sure you’re actually going to use them all; otherwise, you could be wasting money.
- Use fewer eggs. A simple way to save money on eggs is to not consume as many. For instance, you might opt to get your daily protein from other sources or swap out your favorite baking recipes for ones that don’t incorporate eggs.
- Shop with coupons and cash back apps. Couponing may seem tedious but supermarkets make it easier by allowing you to load digital coupons to your store loyalty card. You can pair coupons with a cash back app that pays you a percentage back when you shop at partner grocery stores, which can add to your savings.
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The Takeaway
The average cost of a dozen eggs might not be something you think about on a day-to-day basis. But knowing how much you’ll pay for eggs matters when it’s time to go to the grocery store and do your weekly shopping. Keeping an eye on egg prices and implementing some different hacks for finding cheap eggs can help you keep your food budget in check.
This article originally appeared on SoFi.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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