Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per Purchase Benchmarks for Media in New Zealand

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

Cost Per Purchase for Media in New Zealand

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Based on $3B in ad spend from our dataset, the Media industry in New Zealand shows cost per purchase levels that are above market on average due to a single late spike, but largely in line with the global trend prior to that spike.
  • Clear seasonality: costs rose in Q4 2024, softened through Q1–Q2 2025, and then surged in late Q3 2025. Globally, costs also rose in Q4 but trended down into September 2025.
  • Volatility is high in the selected series, driven by September 2025. Excluding that month, variability is moderate and tracks the global pattern more closely.

This analysis looks at cost per purchase trends for industry Media and target country New Zealand compared to the global trend.

What the selected data shows

  • Average (Sep 2024–Sep 2025): NZ Media averaged $75.21 per purchase. Excluding the September 2025 spike, the average was $48.93, closely aligned with the market.
  • Highs and lows:
  • Highest month: September 2025 at $400.57 (a clear outlier).
  • Lowest month: June 2025 at $30.01.
  • First-to-last change: from $42.38 in September 2024 to $400.57 in September 2025, a +845% increase, entirely driven by the September 2025 surge.
  • Volatility (month-to-month):
  • Average absolute change: 66%. Excluding September 2025, volatility was ~30%.
  • Notable spikes/dips:
  • Q4 2024 uptick: October ($58.66) and December ($55.13) were above September.
  • Q1–Q2 2025 softness: February–March (~$34.35–$34.51) and the cycle low in June ($30.01).
  • Late Q3 2025 jump: July ($81.10) and August ($70.45), culminating in the September spike.

How it compares to the global baseline

  • Baseline average: $47.73 per purchase across the same period.
  • Baseline high/low: Peak in February 2025 at $53.89; low in September 2025 at $32.29.
  • Baseline first-to-last change: down 31% from September 2024 to September 2025.
  • Baseline volatility: relatively steady, with an average absolute month-to-month move of ~6%, except for a drop in September 2025.
  • Relative positioning:
  • Overall: NZ Media is +58% above market on average if the September spike is included.
  • Excluding September 2025: NZ Media is broadly in line with the market (+2.5% vs. baseline average).
  • By period:
  • Q4 2024: NZ was above market (e.g., October $58.66 vs. baseline $46.67).
  • Q1–Q2 2025: NZ tracked below market (e.g., March $34.35 vs. $52.61; June $30.01 vs. $46.96).
  • Early Q3 2025: NZ moved above market (July–August), then far above in September.

Seasonal patterns and timeline highlights

  • Q4 lift: Costs typically increase in Q4 around holiday periods. NZ followed this pattern in 2024, with October–December above September.
  • Q1–Q2 easing: Both NZ and the global trend showed relatively lower or stable costs early in the year; NZ’s trough came in June.
  • Divergence in late Q3 2025: The global baseline fell to its lowest point in September, while NZ Media experienced a sharp, isolated spike.

Understanding COST_PER_PURCHASE benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Media and New Zealand 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 New Zealand, 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.

New Zealand Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 2Day after New Year's Day
Feb 6Waitangi Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Easter Monday
Apr 25ANZAC Day
Jun 2King's Birthday
Jun 20Matariki
Oct 27Labour Day
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November–early December (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), Christmas season (Boxing Day sales), Mid‑year promotions (Matariki in June), Back-to-school (late January/early February)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise around Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day as public events increase media consumption. Matariki is new public holiday with growing awareness—advertising may see elevated competition. Late November–December Black Friday/Cyber Monday could drive ad costs significantly. Regional anniversary holidays may cause local inventory shifts.

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.