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Facebook Ads Cost Per Purchase Benchmarks for Media in Italy

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Cost Per Purchase for Media in Italy

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • On average, Media campaigns in Italy ran above market: the median cost-per-purchase averaged 75.66 versus the global baseline at 47.82 (+58%).
  • Volatility in Italy was extreme. Median month-over-month absolute change was 74.8% (average 490%), compared with the baseline’s 2.4% (average 7.0%).
  • The series showed large spikes in February–March and a sharp surge in September, plus an exceptional dip in July.
  • No clear Q4 uplift appears in Italy, while the global series stayed tight through Q4–Q1 and softened into late summer/early fall.

What this report covers

This analysis looks at cost-per-purchase trends for industry Media and target country Italy compared to the global trend. The analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.

Italy, Media: cost-per-purchase overview (selected data)

  • Averages and range
  • Average: 75.66
  • High: 400.57 (2025-09)
  • Low: 0.99 (2025-07)
  • Range: 399.58
  • Start-to-end change
  • From 35.93 (2024-10) to 400.57 (2025-09): +1,015%
  • Notable spikes and dips
  • +210% from January to February (47.95 → 148.79)
  • -94% from June to July (16.71 → 0.99)
  • +3,878% from July to August (0.99 → 39.25)
  • +921% from August to September (39.25 → 400.57)
  • Volatility
  • Median month-to-month absolute change: 74.8%
  • Average month-to-month absolute change: 490%
  • Seasonal shape
  • Q4 (Oct–Dec) did not rise; December fell to 24.83.
  • Q1/Q2 were mixed, with a February–March spike followed by an April low.
  • Q3 showed the most turbulence, bottoming in July and peaking in September.

How Italy compares to the global baseline

  • Overall level
  • Italy average: 75.66 vs global 47.82 → above market by +58%.
  • Highs and lows
  • Italy high: 400.57 (Sep) vs global high: 53.89 (Feb).
  • Italy low: 0.99 (Jul) vs global low: 32.29 (Sep).
  • Month-by-month positioning
  • Italy was below the baseline in 9 of 12 months (Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug).
  • Above the baseline in February (+176%), March (+96%), and September (+1,141%).
  • Trajectory from first to last month
  • Italy: +1,015% (35.93 → 400.57)
  • Global: -30.8% (46.67 → 32.29)
  • Stability
  • Baseline median month-over-month absolute change: 2.4% (average 7.0%).
  • The baseline held between ~46–54 from October through August, then declined to 32.29 in September (-29% month-over-month).

Seasonality and timing signals

  • No consistent Q4 uplift in Italy; October–December were mixed and mostly below the global benchmark.
  • The global benchmark remained relatively steady across Q4 and Q1, with a clear softening in September.
  • Italy’s series concentrated variance in Q1 (spike) and especially Q3 (July dip, September peak).

Understanding cost-per-purchase benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Media and Italy 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 Italy, 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.

Italy Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 6Epiphany
Apr 20Easter Sunday
Apr 21Easter Monday
Apr 25Liberation Day
May 1Labour Day
Jun 2Republic Day
Aug 15Ferragosto
Nov 1All Saints' Day
Dec 8Immaculate Conception
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26St. Stephen's Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), Christmas & post‑Christmas sales (late December), Ferragosto (mid‑August) summer tourism, Back‑to‑school (September)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might increase during spring holidays when Italians engage in travel or leisure. Ferragosto may see travel and hospitality ads face high competition while retail CPMs dip. Late November and December see ad demand surges. 'Ponte' long weekends could affect ad pacing with stronger performance on adjacent weekdays.

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.