‘Who Is Still Buying Meat From Publix?’: Florida Woman Spots $23 Meat At Publix. Then She Goes Back A Month Later And Sees The New Price

For months, shoppers across the U.S. have been forced to deal with food bills that don’t seem to stop climbing.

Beef in particular has become a sore spot, with ground beef averaging more than $6 a pound, steak topping $11, and herds at their lowest levels in decades, according to USDA data.

For years now, users on TikTok have been sharing receipts and shelf photos that show just how much prices can differ depending on where you shop. And Publix, one of the most popular chains in the Southeast, is right in the crosshairs.

Publix Shopper Wonders If Anyone Can Still Afford Their Steaks

TikTok user @mom_with_3_kidss filmed herself browsing the meat section at Publix and did a double-take at the ribeye.

One pack of thinly sliced steak, weighing 2.32 pounds, came to $56.35. Another, exactly 2 pounds, cost $48.58.

“I got the same meat last month for $23 for two pounds worth,” she wrote in her caption. “Every time I go in this store the prices just keep rising.”

Her video struck a nerve, pulling in more than 59,000 views as others compared what they were paying in their own cities.

Publix Meat Prices Draw Complaints On Reddit, Too

Shoppers on r/publix echoed the same frustration. One person shared a photo from earlier this year showing ribeye for $27.99 a pound. They admitted they used to prefer Publix’s steak to Aldi’s or Walmart’s but said, “I feel like their steaks are getting steep.”

Another poster openly questioned whether it was price gouging. “The elephant in the room…why is red meat, among other things, so expensive at Publix?” they asked, attaching a photo of USDA choice steak at $17 per pound.

For context, the USDA explains that beef grading primarily depends on marbling. Select cuts are leaner and less juicy, Choice is higher quality but with less marbling than Prime, and Prime is the gold standard with the most marbling.

Publix’s ribeye was priced at $24.29 per pound in the TikTok video, compared with roughly $23 at Walmart, $19 at Kroger, and $15 at Aldi. Of course, location plays a role in what a similar cut will cost.

Publix’s Higher Prices Go Beyond Red Meat

Concerns about Publix’s pricing aren’t new. A year ago, Business Insider compared a week of grocery shopping at Lidl versus Publix in Raleigh, North Carolina. Lidl came out far cheaper on nearly every item.

Fresh herbs like parsley were 80 cents less at Lidl. A pack of tricolor bell peppers costs $3.79 at Lidl but $5.99 at Publix.

Green beans were $2.47 compared to Publix’s $3.79. Even staples like chicken thighs and ground beef ran more than $10 higher at Publix for the same week’s list.

Milk and spices showed the biggest gaps. A gallon of whole milk was $2.64 at Lidl but $3.45 at Publix. Paprika at Lidl worked out to 49 cents an ounce, compared with $1.20 at Publix. By the end of the trip, Harrell calculated he saved over $40 by choosing Lidl, estimating that long-term he could save more than $2,000 a year.

Shoppers Vent In The Comments

The comments section is filled with people sharing similar experiences at Publix.

“Publix really is getting out of control with their prices. It’s horrible,” one wrote.

Another said, “Nope. Costco for meat, Aldi for small things.”

Some admitted they only stop at Publix for certain items. “I refuse to buy anything from Publix that isn’t deli or bakery,” one person explained. “If there is a BOGO that’s worth it then maybe, but on my way out of the deli last week I noticed the Brach’s candy corn was $6.98 and I had just got the same bag from Walmart for $2.19. They are so insane.”

Others argued Publix has always been pricey. “Publix has been around my entire life and they’ve always been expensive. Publix is a high-end rich people store and people need to understand that,” a Florida native said.

BroBible has reached out to @mom_with_3_kidss via TikTok messages for more info and to Publix via email for official comment.