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Facebook Ads Cost Per Lead Benchmarks for Finance in South Africa

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Cost Per Lead for Finance in South Africa

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads cost-per-lead benchmarks: Finance in South Africa vs global

This analysis looks at cost-per-lead (CPL) trends for industry Finance 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.

Key takeaways

  • No Finance-in-South-Africa (ZA) CPL data is available for the selected period, so comparisons are limited; the global baseline provides directional context.
  • Global baseline average CPL across the period is about 35.80, with a high of 41.58 (Nov 2024) and a low of 20.63 (Sep 2025).
  • Seasonality is visible: CPLs rise into Q4 (holiday period) and stay elevated through mid-year, before a sharp dip in Sep 2025.
  • Volatility is moderate overall (average month-to-month move ≈ 4.50), with two standout swings: +10.45 from Oct to Nov 2024 and −16.40 from Aug to Sep 2025.
  • From Sep 2024 to Sep 2025, the baseline CPL fell by roughly 37%, with the final month 42% below the period average.

What we analyzed

  • Metric: cost per lead
  • Industry selection: Finance (ZA)
  • Selected-data availability: none for this time frame
  • Baseline: global CPL time series (Sep 2024–Sep 2025)

Global baseline overview (cost per lead)

  • Average: 35.80
  • High: 41.58 (Nov 2024)
  • Low: 20.63 (Sep 2025)
  • Range: 20.95 between high and low
  • First vs last month: 32.88 (Sep 2024) to 20.63 (Sep 2025), a decrease of about 37%

Notable months and shifts:

  • Q4 lift: Oct 2024 averaged lower (31.12), then a spike to 41.58 in Nov and 39.63 in Dec (Q4 average ≈ 37.44, above the full-period average).
  • Early 2025 stabilization: Jan–Jul 2025 largely held between 35.54 and 39.63, with Apr–Jul averaging ≈ 38.81.
  • Late-year dip: Aug 2025 eased to 37.03, followed by a sharp drop to 20.63 in Sep 2025 (−16.40 month over month), the lowest point in the series and 42% below the period average.

Volatility and seasonal patterns

  • Average month-to-month absolute change: ≈ 4.50.
  • Largest moves:
  • Upward: +10.45 from Oct to Nov 2024.
  • Downward: −16.40 from Aug to Sep 2025.
  • Seasonality: consistent Q4 uplift aligns with typical holiday-driven competition, followed by steady mid-year levels and an exceptional September dip.

About the comparison to Finance in South Africa

  • The selected time series for Finance in South Africa is not available for the period provided. As a result, we cannot determine whether ZA Finance CPLs are above market, below average, or in line with the global trend.
  • The global baseline serves as a reference point marketers can use when assessing any available internal results for Finance in South Africa.

Understanding cost-per-lead benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Finance 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 Finance industry, Facebook ad costs can be typically higher due to high competition and valuable conversions. 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 is considered a good cost per lead on Facebook in 2025?

A good CPL usually ranges from $10 to $50, depending on your industry and target audience. B2C offers tend to be cheaper, while B2B or high-ticket services may see CPLs over $100.

Why is my CPL higher than industry averages?

Your CPL could be high due to weak creative, irrelevant targeting, or an offer that doesn't resonate. Low engagement or poor conversion rates on your landing page can also drive up costs.

Does campaign objective impact CPL?

Yes. Campaigns optimized for conversions or leads tend to generate cheaper and more qualified leads compared to traffic or engagement objectives. Facebook needs clear signals to find the right users.

How can I generate leads at a lower cost without hurting lead quality?

Focus on improving your offer, targeting the right audience, and using high-converting creative. Test native lead forms, but make sure you're still qualifying users properly.

Should I optimize for leads or conversions if my goal is pipeline growth?

If your goal is sales or revenue, optimizing for deeper funnel conversions is better. Optimizing for leads alone can inflate volume but hurt quality.