Bread rolls are so expensive due to high labor costs as well as being more labor intensive to make than traditional loafs of bread.
Artisan bread rolls are often more expensive than traditional bread rolls as they also require skilled and manual long process baking.
Other things that increase the cost of the bread rolls are the increased cost of the high quality ingredients, the energy needed for baking, the fuel for transport and even inflationary pressures on wheat that is used to make the bread rolls.
Artisan bread, which includes many specialty brad rolls require significant hands on time, which includes mixing and shaping, which cannot be done through automation like mass produced bread can.
The use of better flour, butter and or organic ingredients in the bread rolls also raises the cost of production of the bread rolls, which in turn raises the purchase price of the bread rolls.
Due to the high inflation going on right now as well, it also factors into the cost of the energy used to operate the ovens, and fuel cost to transport the ingredients and finished goods.
Smaller bakeries that make bread rolls often also produce bread rolls in lower volume, which also lead to higher per unit costs to cover the cost of insurance, rent and equipment.
And global events like conflicts in grain producing regions, also impact the price of wheat and drive up the cost of the bread rolls.
Baking bread rolls at home can save you some money, but it can take some effort to create perfect bread rolls if you've never made them before.
Lower cost store brands of bread rolls are also available.