The average cost per click in South Africa varies widely by industry. Here's our 2026 benchmark table with low/high ranges per vertical, based on aggregated data from real Google Ads accounts.
| Industry | Low CPC | High CPC | Midpoint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal Services | $2.28 | $6.30 | $4.29 |
| Insurance | $3.15 | $8.75 | $5.95 |
| Finance & Loans | $1.75 | $6.30 | $4.03 |
| SaaS & Software | $0.88 | $3.15 | $2.02 |
| Healthcare | $0.98 | $2.63 | $1.81 |
| B2B Services | $1.22 | $3.50 | $2.36 |
| Ecommerce | $0.32 | $1.05 | $0.69 |
| Real Estate | $0.45 | $1.58 | $1.02 |
| Education | $0.63 | $1.92 | $1.27 |
| Travel & Tourism | $0.35 | $1.12 | $0.74 |
| Home Services | $1.40 | $4.20 | $2.80 |
| Automotive | $0.56 | $1.68 | $1.12 |
South Africa is the most developed Google Ads market in sub-Saharan Africa. English campaigns dominate; CPCs are moderate.
These ranges are market averages, not fixed targets. Your actual CPC in South Africa depends on your Quality Score, the competition on your specific keywords, device, and time of day.
If your CPC is above the high range, you likely have Quality Score or account structure issues. If it's below the low range, check your click volume — you might be under-bidding.
For a specific diagnosis of your account in South Africa, you can run a free AI audit.