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Facebook Ads Cost Per Purchase Benchmarks for Consumer Goods in South Africa

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

Cost Per Purchase for Consumer Goods in South Africa

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads cost-per-purchase benchmarks: Consumer Goods in South Africa vs. global

This analysis looks at cost-per-purchase trends for industry Consumer Goods 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.

  • Overall level: South Africa’s median cost-per-purchase averaged 36.71 across the period, about 25% below the global baseline average of 49.02 — generally below market.
  • Trajectory: South Africa rose from 22.94 in Sep 2024 to 43.48 in Aug 2025, an +89.6% increase. The global baseline moved slightly down over the same months (−2.0%).
  • Volatility: South Africa showed materially higher month-to-month variability (average absolute change 9.23) versus the steadier global baseline (2.04).
  • Seasonality: The global trend shows typical Q4–Q1 elevation (higher Dec–Feb). South Africa diverged, with a sharp Q2 spike led by April and elevated levels through July.

South Africa (selected data) trend highlights

  • Average: 36.71 across Sep 2024–Aug 2025.
  • Highs and lows:
  • Low: 18.79 in Jan 2025.
  • High: 69.41 in Apr 2025.
  • Direction of change: +89.6% from first (Sep 2024: 22.94) to last month (Aug 2025: 43.48).
  • Notable movements:
  • Largest jump: Mar → Apr (+43.26), moving costs well above prior months.
  • Largest drop: Apr → May (−13.50), but costs remained elevated versus H2 2024.
  • Elevated plateau May–Jul (55.91, 49.30, 50.77) before easing to 43.48 in Aug.

Global baseline comparison

  • Average: 49.02 (Sep 2024–Aug 2025), with a narrow range and steadier month-to-month shifts.
  • Highs and lows:
  • Low: 43.19 in Nov 2024.
  • High: 53.89 in Feb 2025.
  • Direction of change: −2.0% from Sep 2024 (46.60) to Aug 2025 (45.69).
  • Seasonality: Clear lift from Dec through Feb (51.53 to 53.89), consistent with holiday and post-holiday dynamics.

Relative positioning: South Africa vs. global

  • Level: South Africa ran below the global average in 8 of 12 months. It moved above market during Apr–Jul 2025 when costs spiked locally.
  • Volatility: South Africa’s month-to-month volatility (9.23) was over 4x higher than the global baseline (2.04), indicating more pronounced swings.
  • Seasonal shape: Unlike the global pattern with Q4–Q1 firmness, South Africa’s standout period was Q2 2025, peaking in April and staying comparatively high through July.

What marketers should note

  • South Africa’s Consumer Goods cost-per-purchase was generally below average but experienced a short, sharp run-up in Q2 2025, followed by a moderation in August.
  • The global series remained tighter, with elevated costs in Dec–Feb and softer mid-year levels, against which South Africa diverged.

Understanding cost-per-purchase benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Consumer Goods 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 Consumer Goods 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 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.