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Trader Joe’s has built its reputation on great prices and unique products, but the fan-favorite grocery chain isn’t immune to inflation. While TJ’s still offers solid deals on many items, prices on some products have increased or are no longer as cheap as they used to be.
Here are five products where Trader Joe’s prices may be better than other stores.
bananas
For decades, Trader Joe’s sold bananas for 19 cents each, making it one of the most coveted deals in grocery retailing. This changed in late March 2024 when the price increased to 23 cents per banana.
It’s still cheap, but it’s no longer the lowest price buyers expect.
Where to buy instead: Walmart sells each banana for about 20 cents, splitting the difference between TJ’s old and new price.
teeny tiny avocado
Trader Joe’s sells these small avocados as a convenient option, but that convenience comes with a markup. A bag of 6 costs $3.99 at Trader Joe’s.
The problem is that you can get a similar bag of small Hass avocados at Walmart for $2.78. That’s less than a dollar for essentially the same product.
Where to buy instead: Walmart saves you about 30% on small avocados without compromising quality.
organic strawberries
Trader Joe’s charges $8.99 for a 2-pound container of organic strawberries. This works out to about $4.50 per pound, which seems reasonable until you compare it to wholesale pricing.
Costco sells 4 pounds of Kirkland Signature Organic Strawberries for $12.93. Do the math and you’re paying about $3.23 per pound at Costco, which is about 28% less than Trader Joe’s.
The problem is you have to buy double, but if you eat a lot of strawberries or can freeze extra for smoothies, the savings add up quickly.
Where to buy instead: If you can handle larger quantities, Costco leaves Trader Joe’s far behind in per pound pricing.
shaving cream
Trader Joe’s Moisturizing Cream Shave costs $4.49 for 8 ounces. It’s an absolutely great product, but you’re paying a premium compared to the alternatives.
Pure Silk Sensitive Skin Shaving Cream at Ralphs offers comparable quality for $2.29. Other drugstores and grocery chains regularly sell shaving cream that is better than Trader Joe’s everyday price.
Where to buy instead: Ralphs, CVS, Walgreens or any drugstore during a sale will save you money on shaving cream without sacrificing quality.
ramen noodles
These noodles with soy and sesame sauce are trendy and delicious, but Trader Joe’s charges $5.49 for a 13.4-ounce package. Not bad, but Grocery Outlet sells Jin Ramen Spicy Noodle Soup in a 4-pack for $3.99. Bonus points for the grocery outlet: It usually has a huge rotating selection of discounted ramen and noodle options.
Where to buy instead: There are much cheaper ramen and noodle options at grocery outlets, Asian markets or even standard grocery stores that taste just as good.
Editor’s Note: Pricing is accurate as of March 11, 2026. Pricing and availability are subject to change.