Where Are Dozen Eggs Most Expensive? State-by-State Breakdown Shows Wild Price Swings

If you’ve noticed your grocery bill taking a hit lately, you’re not alone. Egg prices have been the talk of dinner tables across America, and for good reason. After climbing to a shocking $8.17 per dozen in early March 2025, prices have since cooled down—but not everywhere equally.

The National Picture: A Rollercoaster Ride

The average price for a dozen eggs in America hit $5.81 at the start of 2025, surged to $7.52 by late January, and peaked at that jaw-dropping $8.17 on March 3rd. The good news? By mid-March, prices had retreated to $4.90, bringing things closer to where they were a year prior ($4.38). Still, this volatility has shoppers wondering: just how much variation exists across the country?

The Expensive States: Where Your Breakfast Budget Takes a Hit

Hawaii stands out as an outlier, with a dozen eggs fetching $9.73—a staggering 98.6% above the national average and 122.1% higher than last year’s price. It’s the real cautionary tale for egg-buyers nationwide.

On the mainland, Florida ($6.36), Alabama ($6.12), Arizona ($6.03), Nevada ($6.07), and California ($6.05) are leading the charge on high prices. Each of these states sits 23% to 30% above the current national average. For California specifically, a dozen eggs costs $6.05, making it about 23.5% pricier than the national median. If you’re in the Golden State, that translates to spending significantly more compared to a year ago, when prices were already 38.1% higher.

The Budget-Friendly Zones: Where Deals Still Exist

Meanwhile, residents in the Midwest are catching a break. Missouri ($4.24), Nebraska ($4.25), Ohio ($4.39), Kansas ($4.41), and Iowa ($4.44) all hover around or below $4.50 per dozen—roughly 10% below the national average. Indiana ($4.33) offers some of the best value nationally.

Alaska ($4.61) and West Virginia ($4.64) also remain relatively affordable, though still above where prices were last year at this time.

The Middle Ground: Moderate Pricing Across the Map

States like New York ($5.37), Maine ($5.84), South Carolina ($5.76), Utah ($5.67), and Tennessee ($5.61) sit somewhere in the middle, offering prices that are moderately above the national average but not breaking the bank like Hawaii or Florida.

Pennsylvania ($4.52), Maryland ($4.78), Wisconsin ($4.78), and Washington ($4.91) represent solid middle options where shoppers won’t feel too much sticker shock.

Year-Over-Year: How 2025 Compares to 2024

What’s particularly striking is the year-over-year comparison. Nearly every state shows eggs costing more in March 2025 than they did at the same time last year. Hawaii leads with a 122.1% increase, while states like Missouri and Nebraska actually saw modest declines (3% and 3% respectively). Most states fall somewhere between 10% and 40% higher than 2024 levels.

California, for context, has seen its egg prices climb 38.1% year-over-year, putting it among the steeper increases outside of the most affected regions.

What This Means for Your Grocery Strategy

For shoppers across all 50 states, the takeaway is clear: egg prices remain elevated compared to historical norms, but geography matters enormously. If you’re on the East Coast or in western states like California, expect to pay a premium. If you’re in the Midwest, you’ve got a relative advantage—though prices have still climbed since last year.

The volatility suggests that shoppers should remain flexible with their breakfast choices when prices spike, and those in expensive markets might find bulk-buying during lower-price windows worth the effort.