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Facebook Ads Cost Per Purchase Benchmarks in Australia

See how your purchase costs compare. Explore ecommerce conversion cost benchmarks by industry, region, and campaign type

Cost Per Purchase in Australia

November 2024 - November 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Introduction

Australia’s cost per purchase tells a two-speed story against the global Facebook Ads benchmarks: mostly cheaper acquisition costs than the market, but with sharper month-to-month swings and a few standout surges. Across the 13-month window, Australia averaged $38 per purchase versus the global $48, roughly 21% lower on average. Yet the route to that efficiency wasn’t linear—December and October delivered lows near $27, April spiked above $64, and late Q3 saw another lift before an October reset.

This analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks. This analysis explores ad performance trends for all industries in Australia compared to the global benchmark.

Section 1: The story in the data

The period opens at $48.90 in November 2024 and closes at $39.20 in November 2025—down 20% end-to-end. Australia’s high came in April at $64.74, while the low arrived in December at $27.23 (with a near-repeat in October at $27.27). The average cost per purchase (CPP) was $38, spanning a $27–$65 range.

The narrative arc is defined by sharp inflections:

  • A December drop from $48.90 to $27.23 (−44%).
  • A steady, efficient Q1 at ~$30.
  • An April spike to $64.74, more than doubling March (+116%).
  • A mid-year cool-down into June ($28.20), then a rebound in August ($51.22) and still-elevated September ($45.75).
  • An October reset to $27.27, followed by a November recovery to $39.20 (+44% month over month).

Volatility in Australia averaged $13.1 month to month—around four times the global benchmark’s $3.4—highlighting a choppier acquisition environment even as average costs stayed lower.

Section 2: Seasonal and monthly dynamics

Seasonally, the pattern shows softer costs around year-end and early Q1, with December and January–March clustering near $27–$31. April stands out as an outlier peak, followed by normalization in May–June. Late Q3 (August–September) tightened again—CPP lifted into the high 40s to low 50s—before a pronounced October dip and a partial November rebound.

Globally, the rhythm was steadier: CPP hovered around $51–$54 from January through May, eased into the high 40s over summer, and then fell in October–November, reaching $30.61 by the end of the period.

Section 3: Country vs. Global

Relative to the global benchmark, Australia undercut the market in 9 of 13 months. The widest deficits were in December and February (−41% to −45% versus global), and October (−40%). Australia moved above market in November 2024 (+14%), April (+26%), August (+2%), and November 2025 (+28%). At its narrowest gap, August sat near parity (+1.6% above global).

On trend, the global series declined more sharply overall (−28% from November to November) than Australia (−20%). Australia’s lower average CPP (−$10 versus global) came with notably higher variability, punctuated by April and August surges and Q4 troughs.

Closing

For performance marketers comparing country-specific ad costs, these Facebook Ads benchmarks show that cost per purchase for all industries in Australia generally runs below the global average, but with bigger monthly swings and distinct April and late-Q3 lifts. Understanding cost-per-purchase trends in Australia helps contextualize acquisition efficiency against global patterns without conflating them with broader CPC trends, CPM analysis, or CTR performance.

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. Different industries see varying ad costs due to market competition, user demographics, and conversion value. For campaigns targeting Australia, advertisers typically see good engagement rates despite moderate costs. 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.

Australia Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 27Australia Day (observed)
Apr 18‑21Easter weekend
Apr 25Anzac Day
Jun 9King's Birthday
Oct 6Labour Day
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late December (Christmas and Boxing Day), Early December (Cyber Monday), January (Back-to-school), May (Mother's Day)

Potential Advertising Impact

Ad costs could spike around major holidays, especially Easter, Anzac Day, and Christmas. Increased budgets and earlier scheduling may be necessary. Retailers should consider planning promotions around back-to-school and Mother's Day to maximize campaign effectiveness.

What's a healthy cost per purchase for ecommerce brands?

It depends on your product price and margins. Most brands aim for $10 to $50. For higher-ticket products, a higher CPA may be acceptable as long as you're maintaining a strong return on ad spend.

How does product price impact CPA benchmarks?

Higher-priced products typically have a higher CPA because people take longer to convert. That's not necessarily a problem if your margin can support it. You should measure CPA in context with AOV and LTV.

Why are my purchase costs going up despite stable ROAS?

Your AOV may be increasing, which helps maintain ROAS even if CPA rises. You could also be facing higher CPMs, lower conversion rates, or creative fatigue.

Should I use manual bidding to control CPA more effectively?

Manual bidding can help if you're struggling to stay within target CPA. It's best used by experienced advertisers who can monitor performance and adjust regularly. It gives more control, but also requires more effort.

How do I scale spend without letting CPA skyrocket?

Increase budget gradually, rotate creative often, and avoid overlapping audiences. Scaling too quickly can lead to audience saturation and rising CPAs.