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Facebook Ads Cost Per Purchase Benchmarks for Education in South Africa

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

Cost Per Purchase for Education in South Africa

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads cost-per-purchase benchmarks: Education in South Africa vs global

This analysis looks at cost-per-purchase trends for industry Education 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

  • Overall level: South Africa’s Education median cost-per-purchase (Oct 2024–Aug 2025) averages 38.6, around 22% below the global baseline average of 49.2 — generally below market.
  • Highs and lows: The selected market peaks in October 2024 (55.2) and bottoms in June 2025 (28.2), a range of about 27.0.
  • Trend over time: From the first to the last observed month, costs fall 39.8% (55.2 in Oct 2024 to 33.2 in Aug 2025). The global baseline eases just 2.1% over the same window.
  • Volatility: South Africa shows higher month-to-month volatility (average absolute change 8.8) versus the steadier global trend (2.2).
  • Seasonality: The usual Q4–Q1 elevation seen globally is not mirrored locally; South Africa’s costs spike in October but remain subdued through Nov–Dec, with a mid-year dip in June.

Selected market: Education in South Africa

  • Average: 38.6 across 11 months.
  • High/low: High at 55.2 (Oct 2024); low at 28.2 (Jun 2025).
  • Month-to-month dynamics:
  • Sharpest decrease: Oct → Nov (-21.4).
  • Sharpest increase: Apr → May (+12.8).
  • Other notable movements: Feb → Mar (+8.4) and Mar → Apr (-15.0).
  • Direction: -39.8% from Oct 2024 to Aug 2025, signaling a sustained easing in cost-per-purchase after a strong October.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Level comparison: Average 38.6 (South Africa) vs 49.2 (global) places South Africa consistently below average on cost-per-purchase.
  • Monthly positioning: Below the global baseline in 10 of 11 months; only October 2024 sits above market (about +18% vs global).
  • Global profile:
  • High/low: Peak at 53.9 (Feb 2025); low at 43.2 (Nov 2024).
  • Volatility: Stable month-to-month changes (avg absolute change 2.2).
  • Trend: Mild decline of 2.1% from Oct 2024 to Aug 2025.

Seasonality and pattern insights

  • Global seasonality shows elevated costs across late Q4 into Q1 (Dec–Feb), peaking in February.
  • South Africa (Education) diverges: a one-off spike in October is followed by softer Nov–Dec and a clear mid-year trough in June, before stabilizing around the low-30s in July–August.
  • Net effect: South Africa remains below market and more volatile, with pronounced swings around October and mid-year.

Understanding cost-per-purchase benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Education 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 Education industry, Facebook ad costs can be moderate, with higher costs for professional and specialized courses. 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.