Makhachkala residents reported rising prices for meat and eggs ahead of Eid al-Fitr.

In the final days of Ramadan, prices for meat, eggs, dairy products, and vegetables continued to rise, according to Makhachkala residents.

As reported by the "Caucasian Knot", according to Makhachkala residents, food prices increased during Ramadan both at markets and in stores. Amid the overall price hike, cafe and restaurant owners were also forced to raise prices. Before Ramadan, meat and egg prices in Makhachkala rose sharply. Dagestan's head of government, Abdulmuslim Abdulmuslimov, stated that every year, as people prepare for Eid al-Fitr, some vendors and retail outlets try to profit from increased demand by unjustifiably raising prices, and he called for a curb on the increase. Business owners have expressed mixed feelings about calls to enforce price controls ahead of the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

Prices have remained virtually unchanged since they rose at the beginning of Ramadan, but some products have become more expensive, Makhachkala residents told a Caucasian Knot correspondent.

"A 30-pack of eggs costs 420 rubles, while before Ramadan it was 280," store owner Magomed told a Caucasian Knot correspondent. He added that tomatoes have become significantly more expensive. They currently cost 390 rubles per kilogram, compared to 200 rubles a month ago. Cucumbers have become cheaper – they were 300 rubles, now they're 230 rubles per kilogram.

Grocery store clerk Aminat said that eggs have gone up the most, from 100 rubles per dozen to 150 rubles. "Dairy products have gone up a bit, especially kefir. A liter
of kefir has gone up from 90 rubles to 130 rubles," she told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"A kilogram of beef costs 850 rubles, up from around 700 rubles. Meat preparations – pelmeni and others – have also gone up in price. The main price increases have been for meat, eggs, some dairy products, and vegetables," said another store employee, Israfil.

"Khasavyurt. Lettuce leaves. "They cost 50-70 rubles. Now they're 433 rubles. And then this happens to them—spoiled food ends up in landfills. And this is during Ramadan," a reader posted a message with an attached photo, "Draft."

On March 17, Dagestan Prime Minister Abdulmuslim Abdulmuslimov held a meeting on the pricing situation in the Dagestan consumer market, according to the republic's government's Telegram channel. He noted that prices for basic socially important food products in Dagestan remained roughly the same as last year as of early March 2026, although prices for a number of items have increased. "Prices for chicken eggs, beef, dairy products, and potatoes are rising." "In this regard, I have the following question: the cattle population in Dagestan is increasing, milk yields are rising, new dairy farms are being introduced, potato targets have been met 100%, and the republic's Ministry of Agriculture is providing support measures to agricultural producers. So, what is the reason for the price increase?" Abdulmuslimov asked. At the meeting, Dagestan Minister of Industry and Trade Nizam Khalilov announced that, to stabilize consumer prices, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has signed an agreement with 35 business entities engaged in wholesale trade in socially important goods in Dagestan. A markup of no more than 10% of the purchase price will be retained for 25 items.

Khadizhat Shamkhalova, Chair of the Dagestan Fisheries Committee, added that fish fairs are held monthly in Makhachkala and Buinaksk. Their regularity has helped keep fish prices down in the region and ensure its affordability for local residents. "The fishing season has only just begun, so there has been a slight price increase previously," Shamkhalova noted.