Walmart built its reputation on low prices, but walk down certain aisles and you might get sticker shock. Plenty of shoppers have discovered that not everything in those big blue stores offers the best deal. Some products cost more than they should, arrive in smaller packages than expected, or just don’t match the quality you’d find somewhere else for less money. Regular customers have figured out which items to skip, and their warnings might save you some cash on your next shopping trip.
Dubai chocolate costs more than regular chocolate should
That trendy Dubai chocolate everyone’s talking about looks fancy with its green pistachio filling and crunchy pastry bits. Lindt jumped on the trend and Walmart started selling it, but the price tag will make your wallet hurt. A single 5.3-ounce bar rings up around $15, which means you’re paying about a dollar per bite. Even stranger, some locations sell two-packs for nearly $50, though hardly anyone buys them at that price.
The worst part isn’t just the cost. Shoppers who splurged on this fancy chocolate say it tastes cheap and barely has any pistachio in it. The filling that makes Dubai chocolate special is skimpy at best. For that kind of money, you could buy several regular chocolate bars that actually taste good. Unless you really need to see what the hype is about, this trendy treat isn’t worth the premium price Walmart charges for it.
Funyuns have gotten ridiculously expensive
Remember when Funyuns were a cheap snack you could grab without thinking twice? Those days are gone. A 6-ounce bag now costs around $4.82 at Walmart, and some shoppers have seen prices climb as high as $5.50. That works out to roughly 80 cents per ounce. The really frustrating part is that the smaller 5.25-ounce bags often cost the same amount, so you’re actually paying more for less product.
People who’ve been buying Funyuns for years say the price has doubled in just two years. One shopper wondered why these onion rings cost more per ounce than actual meat. The problem is that Funyuns don’t have much competition, so they can charge whatever they want. Even at other stores like Target and Amazon, you’ll pay similar prices. Trader Joe’s has a knockoff version, but it still costs about the same per ounce. If you love that specific Funyun taste, you’re stuck paying more than these snacks are worth.
Great Value maple syrup costs more than it should
Store brands usually save you money compared to name brands, and Walmart’s Great Value line has plenty of winners. But their maple syrup breaks that pattern in a bad way. A 12.5-ounce bottle runs about $8, which is $2.50 more than you’d pay for nearly the same thing at Aldi. The bigger 32-ounce jug costs $16 at Walmart, while Costco sells an even larger 33.8-ounce container for just $15.
Real maple syrup always costs more than fake stuff, but that doesn’t explain why Walmart charges so much for its own brand. When the whole point of store brands is saving money, paying extra doesn’t make sense. Plenty of other places sell real maple syrup for less, including warehouse stores and discount grocers. If you make pancakes or waffles regularly, those price differences add up fast. Skip Walmart’s syrup and check out competitors where your money goes further.
Fresh meat prices are surprisingly high
Most people assume fresh meat at a discount store means good prices, but Walmart breaks that assumption. Shoppers consistently point out that raw chicken, beef, and other meats cost way more than they should. One person compared grocery hauls from Aldi and Walmart and found that Walmart’s meat prices were about 60% higher for similar products. That’s a massive difference when you’re trying to feed a family on a budget.
The quality complaints make things worse. Some customers report finding brown or green meat even before the expiration date. Others say the steaks look sad and unappetizing compared to what they’d find at competitors. Even people who think Walmart’s pricier cuts are okay admit they’d rather save money by shopping at Aldi. When you can get better quality for less money somewhere else, why pay more? Check meat prices at other grocery stores before you stock up at Walmart.
Honeycrisp apples have gotten way too pricey
Honeycrisp apples taste great with their sweet crunch, but Walmart’s prices have shot up dramatically. A 3-pound bag that used to cost around $5 now rings up for over $10 in many stores. Single apples can cost as much as $2.73 each, while other apple types like Cosmic Crisp sell for noticeably less. That’s a tough pill to swallow when you just want a healthy snack.
The high price would be one thing if the quality matched, but it often doesn’t. Customers frequently complain about receiving bruised or rotten apples, especially with delivery orders. One shopper pointed out that paying premium prices for rotten fruit makes the actual cost per edible apple even worse. If you really want Honeycrisp apples from Walmart, buy them in person so you can check each one carefully. Better yet, look for them at farmers markets or other grocery stores where the price hasn’t jumped quite so much.
Lemons are smaller and more expensive than elsewhere
How much are you willing to pay for a tiny lemon that barely has any juice? Walmart charges about 68 cents per lemon, which sounds reasonable until you see how small they are. Shoppers regularly complain about receiving lemons that look like they were picked way too early. When you cut them open, there’s barely enough juice to make the purchase worthwhile. Some people joke that they’d need three Walmart lemons to equal one normal-sized lemon from another store.
The combination of high prices and low quality makes Walmart’s lemons a particularly bad deal. Stores like Aldi and local grocery chains often sell bigger, juicier lemons for less money. One reviewer summed it up perfectly by saying these were the smallest lemons they’d ever received and the highest price they’d ever paid. That’s exactly the opposite of what you want when shopping at a discount store. Save your money and buy lemons somewhere that gives you actual value.
Organic produce costs more than at other stores
Organic food always costs more than regular stuff, but Walmart takes that premium to another level. A study by Consumers’ Checkbook found that Walmart’s organic produce prices run about 12% higher than the regional average. Even more surprising, Walmart actually ranked as the most expensive place to buy organic produce out of all the stores surveyed. That list included places like Whole Foods, which usually gets blamed for high prices.
Shoppers back up these findings with their own complaints. People say organic cucumbers are half the size but double the price. Strawberries arrive small and sometimes moldy. Cauliflower heads are tiny but cost more than four dollars each. When you’re trying to make better food choices without breaking the bank, these prices work against you. Stores like Aldi, Trader Joe’s, and even Whole Foods offer better deals on organic options. Check those places first before paying Walmart’s premium.
Fresh shrimp prices doubled overnight
In the summer of 2025, something shocking happened to Walmart’s fresh shrimp with sauce. The price jumped from $4.98 to $9.99 seemingly overnight. That’s more than double what people were paying just days before. Shoppers felt blindsided by such a dramatic increase, especially since wages haven’t kept up with rising food costs. Some people wondered if this was just normal market stuff or if Walmart was taking advantage of customers.
High tariffs and limited domestic supply have pushed shrimp prices up everywhere, not just at Walmart. But doubling the cost in such a short time feels extreme. The good news is that not all seafood has gotten more expensive. Some items like Great Value pink salmon fillets have actually dropped in price. If shrimp has become too pricey for your budget, consider switching to salmon or other fish that won’t drain your wallet as quickly.
Jack Link’s beef jerky costs too much for what you get
Beef jerky always runs expensive because of how it’s made, but that doesn’t mean all jerky prices make sense. Jack Link’s products at Walmart fall into the overpriced category according to regular shoppers. A standard bag costs around $8 or more, and people say the quality doesn’t match what they’re paying. The jerky pieces are sometimes smaller than expected, and the overall value just isn’t there compared to other brands or stores.
Some customers suggest making your own beef jerky at home if you eat it regularly. Others recommend checking warehouse stores like Costco, where bulk packages bring the per-ounce price down significantly. Even buying different brands at Walmart might save you money while giving you the same protein-packed snack. When a product costs this much without delivering on quality, it’s worth exploring alternatives that give you more bang for your buck.
Shopping smart means knowing when to skip certain items and find them elsewhere. Walmart offers plenty of good deals, but these overpriced foods aren’t among them. Other stores often beat Walmart’s prices on these specific items while matching or exceeding the quality. Check competitors before you assume Walmart has the best price, and don’t be afraid to buy different items at different stores. Your grocery budget will thank you when you stop overpaying for things you can get cheaper somewhere else.
