The bacon, egg and cheese sandwich is a New York City staple.

It’s “the go-to” sandwich for Baruch College junior Paz Moran.

“Right between classes,” Moran said. “A little lunch break, that’s what we get.”

But Moran has had to think a bit harder recently about whether she was ok paying a little bit more for her go-to sandwich, also known as the “BEC.”

The classic sandwich is getting more expensive at bodegas and bagel shops all over the city, and it’s all because of the rising cost of eggs.

Moshe, who preferred to only be identified with his first name, is the owner of Pick-a-Bagel at 23rd and Third Avenue in Kips Bay.

About 10 days ago, he made the decision to raise the price of the “BEC” by 75 cents.

“It was forced,” Moshe said. “We had to... I would not sell a sandwich, losing money. Nobody would.”

Francisco Marte would agree. He’s president of the Bodega and Small Business Association and the owner of Green Deli in the Soundview section of the Bronx.

He, too, recently decided to raise the price of a standard “BEC” from $4.50 to $6.00.

“It’s hard,” Marte said. “And it’s especially hard for the community, the low income community. The eggs and the milk are some of the products people most use.”

Marte estimates as many as 50% of city bodegas have already increased the prices of the classic sandwich. He says cases of eggs increased more than 200%. Last month, they were $67, and now they’re $225.

Moshe offered a similar estimate, saying two months ago it was $100 for a case, and now it’s $235.

The soaring prices can be blamed on bird flu, which began in 2022 and is still a major problem.

U.S. farmers have had to slaughter millions of chickens a month, leading to a smaller supply and to the national average for a dozen eggs climbing to $4.15.  

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates prices won’t stop there and could climb another 20%.

Consumers like Paz Moran are feeling it.

“When I go to Trader Joe’s, it’s completely closed off, you can’t even get eggs,” Moran said. “I had to go into Whole Foods for the first time in my life, and it was like double the price than usual, so I didn’t get them.”

Moshe said he understands consumers’ pain and the headache of the rising costs.

“I feel the pain for everybody because I go and I shop for my family and I see prices,” Moshe said. “I understand where those frustrations come from. The point is, we have no choice, in order to keep a business running.”

“We need to make money. And that’s the only way... Nobody is going to pay us our rent if we can’t make it. Nobody is going to pay the payroll if we can’t make it. And that’s the only way we can do it,” he continued.