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Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Recreation and Travel in United States

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Cost Per App Install for Recreation and Travel in United States

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads benchmarks: cost per app install in Recreation and Travel, United States

This analysis looks at cost per app install trends for industry Recreation and Travel and target country United States compared to the global trend. The analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.

Key takeaways

  • Across the observed window, the United States Recreation and Travel segment averaged $33.27 cost per app install, about 3.1x above the global baseline average of $10.62 for the same months.
  • The series was highly volatile (average absolute month-to-month change ~101%), with sharp swings around February (+443% m/m) and March (-81% m/m).
  • Costs trended down overall: from $100.41 in September 2024 to $16.94 in August 2025, an 83% decrease.
  • The global baseline rose into mid‑year (peak in June 2025 at $26.21) and showed steadier volatility (~70% average absolute m/m change).

Dataset and scope

  • Metric: cost per app install (monthly median).
  • Selection: Recreation and Travel, United States (“selected data”) vs. all industries/countries (“baseline”).
  • Period covered in the selected data: Sep 2024–Aug 2025 (11 months).

United States Recreation and Travel overview

  • Average: $33.27
  • High: $100.41 (Sep 2024)
  • Low: $10.25 (Dec 2024)
  • First-to-last change: -83% (Sep 2024 to Aug 2025)
  • Volatility: average absolute month-to-month change ≈ 101%

Notable swings:

  • Sep → Oct 2024: -77% (from $100.41 to $23.00)
  • Oct → Dec 2024: -55% (to $10.25)
  • Jan → Feb 2025: +443% (to $55.76)
  • Feb → Mar 2025: -81% (to $10.71)
  • Jun → Jul 2025: +35% (to $46.62)
  • Jul → Aug 2025: -64% (to $16.94)

Seasonal patterns:

  • A sharp early-year spike in February 2025 stands out.
  • A mid‑year lift appears in June–July 2025 before easing in August.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Baseline average (same months): $10.62; high $26.21 (Jun 2025), low $1.98 (Sep 2024).
  • Baseline first-to-last change: +658% (Sep 2024 to Aug 2025).
  • Baseline volatility: average absolute month-to-month change ≈ 70%.
  • Baseline seasonal markers: a step-up in November 2024 ($14.28, outside the selected series window) and a clear mid‑year spike in June 2025 ($26.21).

Relative positioning:

  • The United States Recreation and Travel series remained above market every month.
  • Sep 2024: $100.41 vs $1.98 (≈51x above baseline)
  • Feb 2025: $55.76 vs $11.36 (≈4.9x)
  • Jun 2025: $34.62 vs $26.21 (≈1.3x)
  • Aug 2025: $16.94 vs $15.00 (≈13% above)
  • Despite elevated levels, the United States series trended down from its September spike, while the global trend generally climbed into mid‑year.

Understanding cost per app install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Recreation and Travel and United States 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 United States, advertisers often face higher costs due to high competition and purchasing power. 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.

United States Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 20Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb 17Presidents' Day
May 26Memorial Day
Jun 19Juneteenth
Jul 4Independence Day
Sep 1Labor Day
Oct 13Columbus Day
Nov 11Veterans Day
Nov 27Thanksgiving Day
Dec 25Christmas Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Thanksgiving & Black Friday weekend), December (Christmas), Back-to-school (July–September), Summer travel season (Memorial Day onwards)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise around major holidays like Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, especially in travel and entertainment. Black Friday/Thanksgiving weekend triggers massive spikes in retail ad competition. December ad demand typically peaks—retail campaigns require significantly higher budgets. Back-to-school promotions drive increased competition. Juneteenth may see regional engagement rise.

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.