Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Media in New Zealand

See how your app install costs compare. Explore mobile acquisition cost benchmarks by industry, region, and platform

Cost Per App Install for Media in New Zealand

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • This analysis looks at cost per app install trends for the Media industry in New Zealand compared to the global trend.
  • New Zealand Media costs are far above market: the Jan–Feb 2025 average is 382.13, about 43x higher than the global baseline for the same months (8.86).
  • Within New Zealand, the median cost fell 18.4% from January to February (420.82 to 343.45), showing a notable month-to-month correction.
  • Globally, costs rose 78.6% from January to February (6.36 to 11.36), moving in the opposite direction to New Zealand.
  • Seasonality in the global baseline shows a November bump in 2024, a sharp mid‑year high in June 2025, and elevated levels again in September 2025.

What the New Zealand Media data shows (selected data)

  • Period covered: January–February 2025.
  • Average: 382.13.
  • High/low: High in January at 420.82; low in February at 343.45.
  • Range and volatility: Month-to-month range of 77.37, which is roughly 20% of the period average, indicating noticeable but not extreme short‑term volatility.
  • Trend: Down 18.4% from the first to the last month, with a dip from January’s peak to February.

How it compares to the global baseline

  • Overlapping months (Jan–Feb 2025):
  • Global average: 8.86 vs. New Zealand Media average of 382.13 (about 43x above market).
  • January: 66x above global (420.82 vs. 6.36).
  • February: 30x above global (343.45 vs. 11.36).
  • Direction: New Zealand decreased −18.4% MoM, while global increased +78.6% MoM.
  • Wider global context (Oct 2024–Sep 2025):
  • Global average across the period: 12.67.
  • Global high/low: High at 26.21 (June 2025); low at 6.20 (October 2024).
  • Global range: 20.02, indicating moderate variability over the year.

Seasonal patterns and notable movements

  • New Zealand Media (Jan–Feb 2025): A single peak in January followed by a February pullback; no additional months are available to confirm broader seasonality locally.
  • Global baseline:
  • Q4 2024: November uptick (14.28) followed by a December ease (8.52) and a low in January (6.36).
  • Mid‑year spike: Clear peak in June 2025 (26.21), with elevated levels again in September (22.99).

Positioning vs. market

  • The New Zealand Media cost per app install level is consistently above market—“well above average”—both by month and on the two‑month average, despite showing a local month‑to‑month decrease while the global baseline rose.

Understanding COST_PER_APP_INSTALL benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Media and New Zealand helps advertisers make more efficient budget and creative choices.

Understanding the Data

Insights & analysis of Facebook advertising costs

Facebook advertising costs vary based on many factors including industry, target audience, ad placement, and campaign objectives. In the Media industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting New Zealand, advertisers should consider local market factors and user behavior. Different campaign objectives lead to varying costs based on how Facebook optimizes for your specific goals. The data shown represents median values across multiple campaigns, and individual results may vary based on ad quality, audience targeting, and campaign optimization.

Why we use median instead of average

We use the median CTR because the underlying distribution of click-through rates is highly skewed, with a small share of campaigns achieving extremely high CTRs. These outliers can inflate a simple average, making it less representative of what most advertisers actually experience. By using the median—which sits at the midpoint of all campaigns—we provide a more rigorous and realistic benchmark that reflects the true underlying data model and helps you set attainable performance expectations.

Key Factors Affecting Facebook Ad Costs

  • Competition within your selected industry and audience demographics
  • Ad quality and relevance score – higher quality ads can lower costs
  • Campaign objective and bid strategy
  • Timing and seasonality – costs often increase during holiday periods
  • Ad placement (News Feed, Instagram, Audience Network, etc.)

Note: This data represents industry median values and benchmarks. Your actual costs may vary based on specific targeting, ad creative quality, and campaign optimization.

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The data behind the benchmarks

All data is sourced from over $3B in Facebook ad spend, collected across thousands of ad accounts that use Superads daily to analyze and improve their campaigns. Every data point is fully anonymized and aggregated—no individual advertiser is ever exposed.

This dataset updates frequently as new ad data flows in. It will only get bigger and better.

New Zealand Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 2Day after New Year's Day
Feb 6Waitangi Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Easter Monday
Apr 25ANZAC Day
Jun 2King's Birthday
Jun 20Matariki
Oct 27Labour Day
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November–early December (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), Christmas season (Boxing Day sales), Mid‑year promotions (Matariki in June), Back-to-school (late January/early February)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise around Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day as public events increase media consumption. Matariki is new public holiday with growing awareness—advertising may see elevated competition. Late November–December Black Friday/Cyber Monday could drive ad costs significantly. Regional anniversary holidays may cause local inventory shifts.

What's a good CPI for iOS vs Android in 2025?

iOS CPIs often range from $2 to $5 or more. Android is usually cheaper, between $1 and $3. Your CPI will depend on geo, creative, and optimization goal.

Why is my app install cost higher in some countries?

Some regions like the US, UK, and Canada have higher competition and stricter privacy regulations, which drive up costs. Countries with lower purchasing power typically have cheaper CPIs.

What creatives drive the lowest CPI on Facebook?

Short videos showing app benefits, UGC-style content, and localized messaging tend to perform best. Clear CTAs and fast-paced visuals help lower your CPI.

Should I optimize for installs or in-app actions?

Optimizing for installs gets volume, but optimizing for actions like signups or purchases brings higher quality users. It depends on your goals and how much post-install behavior matters.

How do I lower CPI without tanking app retention or quality?

Align your creative with the app experience, avoid misleading ads, and exclude users who already installed. You can also test lookalike audiences based on high-quality users, not just all installers.