Switzerland

Switzerland consistently ranks at or near the top of this index, and the premium is largely a matter of policy. In 1992 it became the first country in the world to ban battery cages outright, decades ahead of the EU, and Swiss animal-welfare law remains among the strictest anywhere — smaller flocks, more space per bird, and mandatory outdoor access for many labels. Welfare standards carry costs, and Swiss shoppers pay them at the shelf.

The second factor is protectionism. High import tariffs above a fixed quota shield domestic producers, so roughly two-thirds of the eggs consumed in Switzerland are laid domestically, despite some of the highest labor and land costs in Europe. Combined with one of the world's strongest currencies, even imported eggs arrive at elevated prices.

Notably, Switzerland has no federal minimum wage (a few cantons, such as Geneva, set their own), so the purchasing-power widget is withheld here rather than shown with unreliable data. Swiss median wages are among the highest globally — relative to earnings, the world's most expensive eggs remain comfortably affordable for most residents. The figure reflects prices observed daily at Migros, the country's largest retailer.