I'm new to AWS and have experience with GCP, but I'm concerned about GCP's reliability and prefer AWS's interface. However, I noticed that using RDS for PostgreSQL can cost around $400/month. As I'm running a startup and focusing on app development, this price seems way too high for me. Is there a more affordable way to manage my database? Some folks have mentioned hosting PostgreSQL on an EC2 instance. How does that compare? My setup includes a Docker backend, a database, and AWS Cognito. Is AWS too expensive, or are there better options?
5 Answers
Think about your actual needs! The cost varies a lot depending on instance size and storage. RDS takes away most of the management hassle, though. Consider how much your time is worth when weighing EC2 management versus RDS.
You can definitely run a production-level PostgreSQL setup for much less on AWS if you choose wisely!
The $400 price tag usually isn't for the lowest end of RDS. For a cheaper option, try the db.t4g.micro instance for about $13.87/month. It's small, with just 1 GB of RAM, but perfect for a test environment as long as you don't have tons of data yet!
Don't forget, there are other platforms you can consider! Neon and CockroachDB both offer decent free tiers that could fit your startup's budget just fine.
If you're looking to save bucks, go for a small EC2 instance for PostgreSQL; a t2.medium should do the trick for around $34/month. It’s definitely cheaper than RDS!
That sounds a lot more manageable! I was worried about costs piling up.
That’s a good point! Managing it yourself on EC2 can be a good way to save money, but you have to be ready for the work that comes with it.