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Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Recreation and Travel in South Africa

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Cost Per App Install for Recreation and Travel in South Africa

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • This analysis looks at cost-per-app-install trends for industry Recreation and Travel and target country South Africa compared to the global trend; the analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • In the selected market (Recreation and Travel, South Africa), no monthly data was available for the period provided, so relative positioning versus the global baseline (above market, below average, in line) cannot be determined.
  • Global baseline: average cost-per-app-install was 11.85 over 13 months, with a low of 1.98 (Sep 2024) and a high of 26.21 (Jun 2025). Costs ended much higher than they began, up about 1,061% from Sep 2024 to Sep 2025.
  • Volatility was elevated: average absolute month-to-month change was roughly 74%, with notable surges in Oct–Nov and May–Jun and a sharp pullback in Jul.

Scope and dataset

  • Metric: cost-per-app-install.
  • Industry: Recreation and Travel.
  • Country: South Africa.
  • Selected data: no monthly observations available in the period.
  • Baseline: global median monthly values from Sep 2024 to Sep 2025.

Global baseline overview

  • Average: 11.85 across 13 months.
  • High: 26.21 in Jun 2025.
  • Low: 1.98 in Sep 2024.
  • First vs. last month: from 1.98 (Sep 2024) to 22.99 (Sep 2025), a +1,061% increase (≈10.6x).
  • Range and spread: peak-to-trough span of 24.23, indicating a wide dispersion (≈12x between low and high).
  • Quarterly averages:
  • Q4 2024 (Oct–Dec): 9.67
  • Q1 2025 (Jan–Mar): 8.20
  • Q2 2025 (Apr–Jun): 16.05
  • Q3 2025 (Jul–Sep): 16.78

Seasonal patterns and notable moves

  • Q4 lift into November: costs rose from 6.20 in Oct 2024 to 14.28 in Nov 2024 before easing in December (8.52). This aligns with typical holiday-period pressure peaking ahead of late Q4.
  • New-year softness: values moderated through Jan (6.36) and Mar (6.87), consistent with early-year resets.
  • Mid-year spike: costs accelerated in Q2, culminating in a sharp jump to 26.21 in Jun (+151% vs. May), the period high.
  • Summer rebalancing: a steep correction in Jul (12.35, −53% vs. Jun) was followed by another climb into Aug (15.00) and Sep (22.99).
  • Direction of monthly moves: 7 increases vs. 5 decreases across the 12 transitions, underscoring an overall uptrend with intermittent pullbacks.

Comparison to Recreation and Travel in South Africa

  • Selected data availability: no observations were provided for the selected industry and country during the measured months.
  • Relative position: with no in-market series, the selected market cannot be classified as above market, below average, or in line with overall trends.
  • Baseline reference: marketers benchmarking Recreation and Travel in South Africa should interpret the global figures as directional until local data is available.

Volatility profile

  • Average absolute month-to-month change: ≈74%.
  • Largest month-over-month surge: May to June 2025 (+151%).
  • Largest month-over-month decline: June to July 2025 (−53%).
  • Pattern: cyclical surges into late Q4 and mid-year, with pullbacks immediately after peaks.

Understanding cost-per-app-install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Recreation and Travel and South Africa 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 Recreation and Travel industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting South Africa, 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.

South Africa Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Mar 21Human Rights Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Family Day
Apr 27Freedom Day
May 1Workers' Day
Jun 16Youth Day
Aug 9National Women's Day
Sep 24Heritage Day
Dec 16Day of Reconciliation
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Day of Goodwill

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), December (Christmas & Day of Goodwill), Mid-year retail (June Youth Day promotions)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise during long weekends like Human Rights Day, Freedom Day, and Heritage Day as leisure and travel-related media consumption increases. Retail CPMs may spike in late November–December for holiday shopping. Youth Day and National Women's Day might drive regional campaigns. Weekend extensions across public holidays may benefit weekend campaigns.

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.