Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads CPC Benchmarks in New Zealand

Understand how your CPC compares. Dive into benchmark data by industry, region, and campaign type

CPC (Cost Per Click) in New Zealand

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

This analysis looks at cost-per-click (CPC) trends for industry All industries available and target country New Zealand 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

  • New Zealand CPC averaged $0.93 across Oct 2024–Sep 2025, about 18% below the global average of $1.14 (below market overall).
  • Largest gap to global baseline occurred in February (−63% vs. global); New Zealand moved above market from June through September.
  • Highest CPC in New Zealand was August ($1.52); lowest was February ($0.42).
  • New Zealand CPC doubled over the period (+101% from October to September), while the global trend declined (−19%).
  • Volatility was high in New Zealand (average month‑to‑month swing ~34%) versus a steadier global baseline (~7%).
  • Seasonal pattern: noticeable lift in November (Q4), a trough in January–February, and a sustained climb May–August.

New Zealand CPC trend highlights

  • Average: $0.93; Median high/low months:
  • High: August 2025 at $1.52.
  • Low: February 2025 at $0.42.
  • Start-to-end change: from $0.65 (Oct 2024) to $1.31 (Sep 2025), up ~101%.
  • Notable spikes/dips:
  • Sharpest monthly increases: May (+94% vs. April) and March (+78% vs. February).
  • Sharpest monthly decreases: January (−33% vs. December), April (−27% vs. March), and February (−26% vs. January).
  • Volatility: average absolute month-to-month change was ~34%, indicating pronounced fluctuations.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Average level: New Zealand at $0.93 vs. global $1.14 (≈18% lower).
  • Highs and lows:
  • Global high was November 2024 ($1.47), aligning with peak Q4 demand.
  • Global low was September 2025 ($0.95), reflecting a late-period easing.
  • Momentum:
  • Global CPC fell 19% from October 2024 to September 2025.
  • New Zealand CPC was below average from October through May (e.g., February −63% vs. global), then above market from June to September (e.g., August +44% vs. global).
  • Stability:
  • Global volatility averaged ~7% month-to-month, much steadier than New Zealand’s ~34%.

Seasonal patterns and monthly dynamics

  • Q4: Both series show a November uptick (New Zealand +47%; global +25%), consistent with holiday-period demand. December eased slightly for both.
  • Q1–Q2: New Zealand saw a pronounced trough in January–February before rebounding in March; the global series softened more gradually.
  • Late period: New Zealand climbed steadily May–August, peaking in August, before easing in September; the global baseline trended down through September.

Understanding cost-per-click benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry All industries available and New Zealand helps advertisers make more efficient budget and creative choices.

Understanding the Data

Insights & analysis of Facebook advertising costs

Cost Per Click (CPC) is the amount advertisers pay each time a user clicks on their Facebook ad. Different industries see varying ad costs due to market competition, user demographics, and conversion value. 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 exactly is CPC in Facebook Ads?

CPC (Cost Per Click) is what you pay each time someone clicks on your ad, on any Facebook Ads placement. It's calculated by dividing your total spend by the number of clicks received. Facebook Ads lists Clicks, Link Clicks and Outbound Clicks separately. The former is the sum of all types of clicks (including, for example, clicks to your profile page, to a link or to a comment).

What's considered a good CPC for Facebook ads in 2025?

The truth is that varies, so play with our tool to get some benchmarks that are relevant to you. CPC values are highly dependent on the region, industry and campaign objective. The US is one of the most expensive markets.

What influences cost per click on Facebook?

Several factors affect CPC: your audience targeting, competition in your industry, ad relevance score, and creative performance. If your ad isn't getting engagement or relevance is low, CPC tends to spike.

Why is my Facebook ad CPC suddenly increasing?

CPC spikes usually happen because of increased competition in your target audience, seasonal trends (like holidays), poor ad relevance scores, or algorithm changes. Check if your audience targeting has become too narrow or if your creative is showing fatigue.

Do desktop and mobile Facebook ads have different CPCs?

Yes, there's a noticeable difference between platforms. Mobile CPCs often run lower than desktop. How many times do check Instagram on your phone and how often do you open it in your computer? There's simply much more mobile inventory. Tip: segment your performance data by placement to understand where your clicks are coming from. Spoiler: it's likely all mobile.

Should I optimize my campaigns for CPC or conversions?

For most businesses, optimizing for conversions will deliver much better ROI than focusing purely on CPC. A low CPC is meaningless if those clicks don't convert. However, if you're running awareness campaigns or some kind content promotion, CPC optimization might potentially make sense, although most experts have switched to conversion optimization by now.

Why do my CPC benchmarks differ from published industry averages?

Your specific audience targeting, creative quality, bidding strategy, and account history all influence your CPC. Industry averages provide a reference point, but your historical performance is a more reliable benchmark for setting expectations and measuring improvement.

Are CPCs cheaper on Instagram or Facebook?

Instagram CPCs are generally slightly higher due to stronger purchase intent and higher competition among advertisers. But it depends on the audience and creative.