The rise in meat and egg prices in Makhachkala marked the beginning of a hike for Eid al-Fitr.

In Makhachkala, meat and egg prices rose sharply at the beginning of Ramadan, but the main increase is expected before Eid al-Fitr, according to city residents. Retailers called the price increases forced.

As reported by the Caucasian Knot, food prices in various cities of Dagestan rose sharply and unjustifiably before the start of Ramadan, and social media users claimed that authorities were not monitoring pricing. In 2025, Makhachkala residents reported that prices for eggs, meat, butter, dates, and other products rose significantly during Ramadan, and authorities took no measures to prevent price increases before Eid al-Fitr. In 2024, Makhachkala residents interviewed by the Caucasian Knot also reported that food prices rose significantly before Eid al-Fitr.

Residents of Makhachkala told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent about the rise in food prices in Dagestan with the beginning of Ramadan.

"There has been a huge increase in the price of chicken eggs. "I went to several stores, and the cheapest "cage" of 30 eggs costs 400 rubles, down from less than 300 recently. Vegetables have also gone up in price. You can buy everything a little cheaper at the market; at least you can haggle there," Raisat told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Compared to last year, prices have increased by at least a quarter, according to Rashid, a resident of Makhachkala. "We have a car, and before Ramadan, the family went out of town to the wholesale market and bought a stock of essential groceries there. Prices have increased compared to the beginning of the year. But the biggest jump will be, as always, at the end of Ramadan, during the holiday of Eid al-Fitr," the man said.

"Right now, only eggs and meat have seen a price increase, mostly." They'll rise sharply during Eid al-Fitr, when everyone will be celebrating the holiday and setting the tables. Our family can't afford to buy groceries at inflated prices; we hardly buy meat, so we try to stock up on supplies," said Indira.

Eggs recently cost 220 rubles per cage, now they're 410.

Magomed, the owner of a grocery store in Makhachkala, told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that with the start of Ramadan, purchasing prices for some products have increased, so he's forced to mark them up accordingly.

"Eggs recently cost 220 rubles per cage, now they're 410. People are outraged, but I try to explain that it's not our fault. "Beef used to cost 700 rubles, but now it's up to 900 rubles. Sweets and fruit are the same price," he said.

Zamira, a salesperson at another store, told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that eggs, especially those with a high price, have gone up significantly.
"We're forced to add a minimal markup so people can buy them; they're currently 390 rubles. Cucumbers used to cost 200 rubles per kilogram, but with the start of Ramadan, they're 310 rubles. Dairy products and candy haven't gone up yet," the store employee reported.

"The Makhachkala Department of Trade, Advertising, and Consumer Services has conducted outreach to entrepreneurs about the city's festive decorations for the Holy Month of Ramadan. I think this is the right thing to do!" "And I think it would be very good if they also discussed the undesirability of raising food prices during this period. Since the clergy is talking little about this, and perhaps not convincingly, maybe Salavov's tough guys (Dzhambulat Salavov is the mayor of Makhachkala. Note from the "Caucasian Knot")will explain that raising prices without justification is bad?" a reader posted on his Telegram channel, "Chernovik."