Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per Purchase Benchmarks for Gaming in South Africa

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

Cost Per Purchase for Gaming in South Africa

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • This analysis looks at cost per purchase trends for the Gaming industry in South Africa compared to the global trend, based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • The South Africa series is highly volatile: ultra-low medians in October–November 2024 followed by extreme spikes in January–February 2025.
  • Across the observed months (Oct–Nov 2024, Jan–Feb 2025), South Africa averages about 2.3x higher cost per purchase than the global baseline, driven by a February peak.
  • Seasonality differs from the global pattern: the baseline shows a mild Q4 uplift into December and steady costs into Q1, while South Africa plunges in late Q4 and surges sharply in Q1.

Overview of the selected data (Gaming, South Africa)

  • Period covered: Oct 2024, Nov 2024, Jan 2025, Feb 2025 (monthly medians).
  • Average: 111.47 per purchase.
  • High/low: high at 348.32 (Feb 2025); low at 0.053 (Nov 2024). Range: 348.27.
  • First-to-last change: from 0.133 (Oct 2024) to 348.32 (Feb 2025), ≈ +262,000%.
  • Notable movements:
  • Oct → Nov 2024: −60% (0.133 → 0.053).
  • Nov 2024 → Jan 2025: ≈ +1,830x two-month jump (0.053 → 97.39).
  • Jan → Feb 2025: +258% (97.39 → 348.32).
  • Interpretation for marketers: the series shows extreme dispersion with an unusually low Q4 (Oct–Nov) and a dramatic Q1 surge, pointing to outsized month-to-month variability in cost per purchase during this window.

Comparison with the global baseline

  • Matching months (Oct–Nov 2024, Jan–Feb 2025):
  • Global average: 49.02 per purchase vs. South Africa 111.47 (about 2.3x higher).
  • Global high/low in this window: high 53.89 (Feb 2025); low 43.19 (Nov 2024). Range: 10.69.
  • Global first-to-last change (Oct 2024 → Feb 2025): +15.5% (46.67 → 53.89), indicating stability relative to South Africa.
  • Month-by-month positioning vs global:
  • Oct 2024: 0.133 vs 46.67 — far below market (≈99.7% lower).
  • Nov 2024: 0.053 vs 43.19 — far below market (≈99.9% lower).
  • Jan 2025: 97.39 vs 52.31 — above market (≈+86%).
  • Feb 2025: 348.32 vs 53.89 — well above market (≈+546%).
  • Volatility contrast:
  • Global baseline shows mild fluctuations: −7.5% (Oct→Nov), +19.3% (Nov→Dec), +1.5% (Dec→Jan), +3.0% (Jan→Feb).
  • South Africa swings from −60% to +258% across adjacent observed points, with a two-month jump of ≈1,830x into January.

Seasonal patterns and context

  • Baseline seasonality aligns with expectations for Facebook Ads benchmarks: modest increases around late Q4 (holiday period) and steady progression into Q1.
  • South Africa (Gaming) diverges from this pattern in the observed window—cost per purchase is exceptionally low in October–November but surges sharply in January–February, resulting in an average that sits above the global benchmark despite the very low Q4 prints.

Understanding cost per purchase benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Gaming 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 Gaming 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.