AWS RDS vs Aurora: Which Relational Database is Cheaper?
Choosing the right database for your needs depends on various factors – the size of your data, the number of queries you expect, and, most importantly, the cost. AWS offers two popular relational database services – RDS and Aurora. Both services have their unique features and advantages, but which one is more cost-effective? In this blog post, we’ll compare the costs of AWS RDS and Aurora to help you make an informed decision.
AWS RDS
Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) is a managed database service that makes it easy to set up, operate, and scale a relational database in the cloud. It supports multiple database engines, including MySQL, PostgreSQL, MariaDB, and Oracle.
Cost
The cost of RDS varies based on various factors, including the database engine, the instance type, storage size, and data transfer. For instance, a MySQL RDS instance with 2 vCPUs, 8 GB RAM, and 100 GB storage will cost you around $0.138 per hour, which amounts to $99.12 per month. However, you also need to consider the costs of data transfers, backups, and snapshots, which can add up quickly.
Aurora
Amazon Aurora is a MySQL- and PostgreSQL-compatible fully-managed relational database engine built for the cloud. It offers high performance, scalability, and availability at a lower cost than most traditional databases. Aurora is designed to be compatible with MySQL and PostgreSQL, making it easy to migrate your existing workloads.
Cost
The cost of Aurora is based on the instance type, storage size, and data transfer. A basic Aurora PostgreSQL instance with 2 vCPUs, 8 GB RAM, and 100 GB storage will cost around $0.179 per hour, which amounts to $129.60 per month. However, you also need to consider the costs of replicas, backups, and snapshots.
Comparison
Both AWS RDS and Aurora offer reliable and scalable relational database services, but when it comes to cost, Aurora stands out. While RDS offers multiple database engines, which may be necessary for some use cases, it is generally more expensive than Aurora. Aurora offers up to five times better performance than standard MySQL or PostgreSQL databases, making it a more cost-effective option in the long run.
However, if you're already using a specific database engine, such as MySQL or PostgreSQL, and don't want to go through the trouble of migrating to a new engine, RDS may be a better choice.
Conclusion
Choosing the right database for your needs is crucial to your application's performance and cost. AWS RDS is an excellent choice when your workload requires a specific database engine, while Aurora offers a more cost-effective solution with better performance. Ultimately, the choice depends on your workload's specific requirements.
We hope this comparison helps you make an informed decision. If you have any questions or need help choosing the right database, please contact us.