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Facebook Ads Cost Per Purchase Benchmarks for Media in Canada

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

Cost Per Purchase for Media in Canada

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads cost-per-purchase benchmarks: key takeaways

  • This analysis looks at cost-per-purchase trends for industry Media and target country Canada compared to the global trend. The analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • Media in Canada ran below market most months, with a much lower median but a higher average due to late-period spikes.
  • Seasonal patterns diverged from the global baseline: instead of typical Q4 increases, Canada’s costs fell through Q4 and into early Q1, then surged sharply in late summer.
  • Volatility in Canada was very high versus the global trend, driven by large jumps in August and September.

Selected data overview: Media in Canada

  • Average and median: Average cost-per-purchase was 57.91, while the median was 21.61—indicating most months were comparatively low, with a few extreme outliers pushing the mean higher.
  • Highs and lows:
  • Highest month: September 2025 at 400.57.
  • Lowest month: July 2025 at 9.29.
  • Trend and percent change:
  • From October 2024 (53.42) to September 2025 (400.57), costs rose by approximately +650%.
  • Notable dip from November 2024 to February 2025 (35.81 → 10.27), with a brief rebound in March (35.83) before returning to low levels in April–July (20.91 → 9.29).
  • Sharp spikes in late summer: August (66.03) and especially September (400.57).
  • Volatility: Average month-to-month absolute change was about 148%, reflecting frequent and sizable swings.

Global baseline comparison

  • Baseline average and median: Average 47.82; median 48.96.
  • Highs and lows:
  • Highest month: February 2025 at 53.89.
  • Lowest month: September 2025 at 32.29.
  • Trend and percent change:
  • From October 2024 (46.67) to September 2025 (32.29), costs decreased by about -31%.
  • Volatility was low: average month-to-month absolute change around 7%.
  • Relative positioning of Media in Canada vs global:
  • Overall average: Canada was about 21% above market (57.91 vs 47.82) due to late spikes.
  • Typical month: Canada’s median (21.61) was well below the baseline median (48.96), meaning most months were below average.
  • By month: Canada was above market in October 2024, August 2025, and markedly in September 2025; below market in all other months (often by 30–80%).

Seasonality and month-to-month patterns

  • Global baseline shows a familiar seasonal shape: elevated in Q4 and Q1, then gradually easing into summer with a sharper drop in September.
  • Media in Canada diverged:
  • Q4 2024 and early Q1 2025 trended down rather than up (53.42 in October → 10.27 by February).
  • Costs stayed low through July (9.29), then spiked in August (66.03) and September (400.57).
  • Notable spikes/dips:
  • Largest single-month increases: July → August (+611%) and August → September (+507%).
  • Deepest declines: February’s low relative to October (about -81% vs baseline), and repeated drops across Q4 into Q1.

Understanding cost-per-purchase benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Media and Canada 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 Media industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting Canada, 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.

Canada Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Feb (3rd Mon)Family Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Easter Monday (federal)
May (Victoria Day)Victoria Day
Jul 1Canada Day
Sep (1st Mon)Labour Day
Oct (2nd Mon)Thanksgiving
Nov 11Remembrance Day
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday and Cyber Monday), December (holiday shopping, Boxing Day), Back-to-school (August-September), Mother's Day (May)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM might increase during Canada Day, Labour Day, and Thanksgiving. Black Friday and Cyber Monday see heightened e‑commerce bidding. December holiday period may spike ad costs. Back-to-school and Mother's Day drive retail competition. Provincial holidays might alter weekday inventory availability.

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.