Amazon Aurora DSQL is a serverless, distributed SQL database compatible with PostgreSQL. It eliminates the operational burden of traditional databases while offering high availability at a global scale. In this guide, we will explore the pricing model and cost components of Amazon Aurora DSQL in detail.
Table of Contents
Pricing Dimensions
Amazon Aurora DSQL pricing is based on a pay-as-you-go model. You are primarily billed for three main components:
1. Storage
You are charged for the amount of data stored in your database per GB/month. Storage automatically scales up and down, so you don't need to provision capacity in advance.
- Example Price: Approximately $0.25 per GB/month (varies by Region).
2. Read Request Units (RRUs)
You pay per RRU for read operations performed on your database. An RRU represents the resources required to read a specific amount of data (e.g., 4 KB).
- Example Price: Approximately $0.20 per million requests.
3. Write Request Units (WRUs)
You pay per WRU for write, update, and delete operations. Write operations are generally more expensive than reads because they involve replicating data across multiple Availability Zones or Regions.
- Example Price: Approximately $1.00 per million requests.
4. Data Transfer and Backup
Standard AWS data transfer rates apply. Backup storage may also incur charges, though a certain amount is often included for free.
Free Tier
AWS typically offers a generous free tier for new Aurora DSQL users. This is ideal for trying out the service and building small-scale applications.
- Storage: Up to 50 GB per month.
- Reads: 175 Million RRUs per month.
- Writes: 25 Million WRUs per month.
Note: Free tier limits and durations (e.g., for the first 12 months) are subject to change by AWS. Please verify with the official pricing page.
Cost Examples
Below are estimated monthly costs for different scenarios:
Scenario 1: Small Scale Application
- Storage: 10 GB
- Reads: 10 Million
- Writes: 2 Million
In this scenario, usage is within the free tier limits, so the cost would be $0 (for the first year).
Scenario 2: Medium Scale Workload
- Storage: 100 GB (50 GB free, 50 GB paid) -> $12.50
- Reads: 200 Million (175 Million free, 25 Million paid) -> $5.00
- Writes: 50 Million (25 Million free, 25 Million paid) -> $25.00
Total Estimated Cost: Approximately $42.50 / month.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the difference between Aurora DSQL and Aurora Serverless v2?
Aurora DSQL is built on a distributed SQL architecture with active-active multi-region support. Serverless v2 is a scalable version of the existing Aurora architecture. DSQL targets higher resilience at a global scale.
2. Do I pay when I'm not using it?
You pay for storage, but if there are no active requests, you do not incur RRU or WRU charges.
3. How are backups charged?
Automated backups are usually free for a certain retention period. Longer retention or manual snapshots incur additional storage fees.
For more information, check out our AWS Consultancy and Kubernetes Consultancy services.
Source: https://awsfundamentals.com/blog/amazon-dsql-pricing-guide