These overpriced foods may not be worth putting on your shopping list
Food prices can be a deciding factor regarding our meal choices. In fact, just try to walk into a grocery store or take a peek at a restaurant menu nowadays without experiencing sticker shock. That feeling of your eyes widening as you scan the price tag on a simple block of cheese or a carton of juice is becoming an all-too-common part of the shopping experience. It’s a universal moment of surprise that can quickly turn a routine grocery run into a strategic mission of budget optimization.
Still, sometimes, an unexpected upsurge in the cost of a beloved item can lead us to reevaluate our selections. Though prices are expected to increase slower than in previous years, your grocery bill will still increase. What does that mean EXACTLY? It means that even if the rate of inflation cools down, the prices you’re paying today aren’t likely to drop back to what they were. Instead, they will continue to creep up, forcing households to make difficult choices and stretch their food budgets further than ever before.
Unfortunately, you’ll likely have to forego certain foods you once added to your carts without even giving it a second thought. This isn’t just about cutting back on luxury items; for many, it now includes everyday staples that have become prohibitively expensive. But let’s be more specific: Which foods are no longer worth it? Which items have seen their prices climb so high that the value just isn’t there anymore? Continue reading about the 16 overpriced foods you might be saying goodbye to!

Sugary treats
Getting a dozen donuts from the nearby donut shop used to be cheap. It was an easy, affordable way to be the office hero or treat the family on a Saturday morning. Now that we know a box of 12 donuts costs at least $15 to $20, we have other quick and easy snack and breakfast options that don’t hit the wallet so hard. The rising costs of sugar, flour, and labor are passed directly to the consumer. And don’t even get us started on gourmet cookies, which are a whole different story. Those trendy shops selling a single, oversized cookie for upwards of $4 or $5 make a dozen donuts look like a bargain!
Ravioli
At roughly $8 a bag for a family-sized portion of fresh or even frozen ravioli, this overpriced food item makes the “not buying this week” list for many grocery shoppers. The convenience of a pre-filled pasta is undeniable, but the premium you pay for that convenience is getting harder to justify. Lots of people have been opting to make their own alfredo and meat sauce and using spaghetti or a more affordable pasta option to get their ravioli fix. A box of penne or spaghetti often costs a fraction of the price and can be stretched into more servings, making it a much more economical choice for pasta night.
Ketchup
We’re not talking about a specific brand but this overpriced food item as a whole has increased in price over the past couple of years. From agricultural challenges impacting tomato crops to rising transportation and packaging costs, the ripple effect has landed squarely on the price tag. For instance, a 32oz bottle of ketchup is nearly $5. It might not sound like a fortune, but for a condiment that was once a budget-friendly staple, the increase is noticeable.
So, if you have some ketchup lovers in your household, you might want to consider rationing the amount they get to use daily! While that might be a bit of a joke, it’s not a bad idea to start checking out store brands, which often have a nearly identical taste for a significantly lower price. A little strategic brand-switching can help keep this family favorite in the fridge without breaking the bank.
Breakfast food
The cereal aisle used to be the easiest part of grocery shopping. You picked out your favorite boxes and threw them in the cart without even a second thought. The bright colors and familiar characters were a comforting sight. Nowadays, though, that’s a great way to be shocked by how much something costs when you get to the checkout. A single box of a popular name-brand cereal can easily top $6 or $7, a steep price for what amounts to a few bowls of breakfast.
These days, when we go to the cereal aisle, we only buy names that say they’re on sale and will save us money on our breakfast meals. Kellogg’s sale of two for five bucks? That used to be the standard price, not a special deal! It’s a clear sign of how much things have changed. Shoppers now have to be more vigilant, actively hunting for promotions or coupons just to afford their morning routine.
Now, you need to decide which Kellogg’s products are the best. So your only two options are to buy off-brand or spend an arm and a leg on your favorite cereal, folks! Thankfully, many store brands have significantly improved their quality over the years, offering comparable taste and crunch for a much more palatable price. It’s a trade-off more and more families are willing to make.
Eggs
Egg prices have significantly increased in the last couple of years, experiencing some of the most dramatic volatility in the grocery store. This overpriced food item is about $2 a dozen on a good day in some places, but has been known to climb much higher, which has aggravated many shoppers, especially since this is the most common breakfast item and a key ingredient in countless recipes. These price swings are often tied to factors like avian flu outbreaks that reduce the hen population, leading to supply shortages.
Some have suggested checking out a local farmer’s market and picking up some fresh farm eggs. They’ll be a little expensive but last longer and usually taste better. The yolks are often a richer color, and many people swear by their superior flavor for cooking and baking. Plus, buying directly from a farmer means you’re supporting your local economy, a benefit that many find worth the extra cost.
Pizza Chains
If you haven’t heard already, Pizza Hut’s large pizza is almost $18, Domino’s is now charging people for delivery in many areas where it was once free, and Papa John’s deal of getting a 10-slice pizza for $3 has now increased to $20! And that’s often before you add extra toppings, a service fee, and a tip for the driver. Suddenly, a “cheap” family dinner can cost $30-$40. Are pizza nights even worth it anymore? For many, the answer is increasingly “no,” especially when a frozen pizza from the grocery store costs less than $10.
Grocery store meat
There are more things in the meat area than just chicken wings, which by the way, will shock you with how much they’ve gone up. Staple cuts like boneless, skinless chicken breasts, ground beef, and even pork chops have all seen significant price hikes. A package of steak that used to be an occasional treat is now a major splurge for many households.
Cheap or expensive, prices on meat like chicken and ground beef changes so often that most people plan their meals around what’s on sale or they buy in bulk from meat markets and farms nowadays. This requires a bit more planning and freezer space, but the savings can be substantial. Buying a larger portion of ground beef when it’s on sale and freezing it in smaller quantities is a classic money-saving tactic. It’s a better way to save more money in the long run.

Chinese takeout
Friday nights used to be for Chinese takeout in many households in the US when people were growing up. The excitement of unpacking those white cartons of lo mein, beef and broccoli, and sweet and sour chicken was a weekly tradition. But not anymore! Many agree that the cost of this overpriced food item has risen far too high. Once you factor in the inflated menu prices, the delivery app service fees, and the driver tip, a modest meal for two can easily exceed $50. And they have to find another alternative for their Friday night dinners.
Out-of-season produce
We all love buying strawberries and asparagus in the middle of winter in places where it gets cold during those months, thanks to places that stay warm enough to keep growing food. The ability to enjoy summer berries in January or crisp asparagus in November feels like a modern miracle. The same goes for juicy peaches or sweet corn when there’s snow on the ground.
But what we DON’T love is scanning that strawberry or asparagus bunch at the register, putting it on the scale, and almost passing out when the price is twice as much as when it’s in season, right? That high price tag reflects the enormous cost of transportation, specialized storage, and sometimes energy-intensive greenhouse cultivation needed to get that produce to your store. The convenience comes at a steep premium.
We’re gonna have to say PASS to these overpriced food items. We’ll just wait until they come back in season, thank you very much! A great alternative is the frozen food aisle, where you can find fruits and vegetables that were picked at their peak of ripeness and flash-frozen, locking in nutrients and flavor at a fraction of the cost of their out-of-season fresh counterparts.
SPAM
SPAM, otherwise known as meat in a can, has been a quick salty dinner or snack option for many years. It gained fame as a long-lasting, inexpensive source of protein during WWII and remained a pantry staple for budget-conscious families for decades. Most people remember eating it when they couldn’t afford anything else.
But now it’s become one of the most overpriced food items on the market! In a strange twist of fate, its cult following and popularity in various international cuisines have driven up demand and, consequently, its price. One can of SPAM will cost you about $4. For a product once synonymous with thrift, this new price point feels completely out of place and has many former fans shaking their heads.
Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream
This brand of ice cream is made in Vermont and is known worldwide for being one of the most delicious and most creative brands. With its chunky mix-ins, clever names, and commitment to using high-quality, often fair-trade ingredients, it has carved out a dedicated fanbase. It’s also become one of the most overpriced food items, though!
Some beloved ice cream flavors include Phish Food, Chunky Monkey, and Churray for Churros! But you’ll be paying a relatively high price if you want to try any of their flavors. A pint costs roughly $5. When you can buy a full half-gallon of a store-brand ice cream for the same price or less, the choice becomes a matter of treat versus staple. For many, Ben & Jerry’s has shifted from a regular grocery list item to a “special occasion only” splurge.
Bakery goods
We all know how delicious the smells coming from a bakery can be. And we also know the pull is even more powerful when looking at muffins, sparkling cakes, breads, and cookies. That perfectly golden croissant or beautifully decorated cupcake is designed to tempt you. But there are better places to get these overpriced food items than the shop, where markups can be incredibly high, especially for single-serving items.
You can save more cash by opting for Betty Crocker. You can also find deals with Duncan Hines or try your hand with Pillsbury if you want something straight from the oven. Baking from a mix is not only drastically cheaper but also fills your home with those same delicious smells. Even refrigerated cookie dough offers that fresh-baked experience with minimal effort and cost.
Red Bull
You’ll have to look elsewhere if you’re looking for a fast and inexpensive burst of energy. This overpriced food item is around $3 for 12 fl oz. When you do the math, the cost per ounce is staggering compared to other caffeine sources like coffee or tea. Many folks aren’t willing to pay this price for energy drinks anymore, especially if it’s a daily habit. That can add up to nearly $100 a month for one drink a day!
Potato chips
Do you know how much Lays and Doritos cost these days? Of course, you can get a regular-sized bag of chips for about $6. But pay attention to the weight—you’re also a victim of “shrinkflation,” where the bag size shrinks but the price stays the same or goes up. That “family size” bag seems to disappear after just a few handfuls. But if you look around the chip aisle, you may be able to find a store-brand choice that’s on the lower end of the price range.
So unless there’s a great sale going on, you shouldn’t buy this overpriced food item. For a much cheaper crunchy and salty snack, consider buying a big container of popcorn kernels. A few dollars’ worth can produce dozens of bowls of popcorn, making it one of the most economical snacks available.

Soda
It used to cost a buck for a two-liter bottle of soda. It was the go-to, cheap beverage for parties, pizza nights, and barbecues. These days, though, the same size goes for at least twice as much. So, you may want to choose more inexpensive drinks instead. For 24 cans of Coca-Cola, you’ll be spending about $17. The rising cost of aluminum, sugar, and transportation are all contributing factors.
That comes out to about $1.50 a can of pop. But drinking soda isn’t even all that healthy for you. It’s loaded with sugar and empty calories, offering no nutritional benefits. So maybe this hike in prices will allow some people to eliminate it from their diet entirely! It could be the perfect motivation to switch to water, unsweetened iced tea, or sparkling water with a squeeze of lemon or lime.
Ready-made grocery store food
We’re all guilty of buying this overpriced food item! Hot, ready-made food is a huge convenience. But it’s one that has gotten more and more expensive over time. That rotisserie chicken that used to be a famous loss leader to get you in the door is now priced to make a profit. The same goes for pre-made salads, sandwiches, and the hot food bar, where you pay by the pound for often heavy items.
We’ll admit that it’s tough to hold back when you see the hot bar in the grocery store because you’re getting more and more hungry as you walk through all the aisles. This is a classic retail strategy: place the tempting, high-margin prepared foods where a hungry shopper is most likely to make an impulse buy. So just remember that the costs are way too high, and you should probably avoid the urge to buy something. A little meal prep at home can save you a significant amount of money.
What are your thoughts on these overpriced food items? Which foods have you recently cut from your shopping list due to the shocking price? Please feel free to share your experiences with us in the comments section below. And if you’re looking for better deals on your groceries, Amazon may be able to help you out. Did you know about Amazon Fresh? It’s a grocery delivery and pickup service that can sometimes offer competitive prices and convenience.
In the meantime, if you liked this article, we highly recommend you also read: Top 10 Most Budget-Friendly Supermarkets in the US