Users commonly ask about how much storage on AWS costs, comparing EFS and EBS pricing. This guide outlines typical cost ranges, identifies what drives price differences, and shows practical budgeting ranges for U.S. workloads.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EFS Standard (storage) | $0.28/GB-month | $0.30/GB-month | $0.34/GB-month | Includes per-GB storage; data transfer within AWS regions adds minimal costs. |
| EFS Infrequent Access (IA) storage | $0.025/GB-month | $0.03/GB-month | $0.04/GB-month | Lower storage cost with retrieval charges. |
| EBS General Purpose SSD (gp3) | $0.08/GB-month | $0.10/GB-month | $0.12/GB-month | Includes baseline IOPS and throughput; occasional I/O bursts may incur extra costs. |
| EBS Provisioned IOPS SSD (io2/io2 Block Express) | $0.125/GB-month | $0.14/GB-month | $0.25/GB-month | Higher performance with separate IOPS pricing. |
| EBS Snapshot storage | $0.030/GB-month | $0.042/GB-month | $0.06/GB-month | Backups billed by stored data in snapshots. |
Typical Cost Range
Cost ranges depend on workload, data size, and access patterns. EFS generally costs more per GB than EBS for raw storage, especially at scale, but EFS provides a fully managed, shared file system experience. EBS charges are tied to the volume type, provisioned capacity, and IOPS or bandwidth needs. The ranges below assume moderate usage and standard data access patterns in common U.S. regions.
Cost Breakdown
| Category | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storage | $0.025/GB-month | $0.12/GB-month | $0.30+/GB-month | Primary driver; varies by service and tier. |
| Provisioned IOPS / Throughput | $0.005/Provisioned IOPS | $0.01/Provisioned IOPS | $0.20/Provisioned IOPS | Significant for io2 or high-throughput workloads. |
| Snapshot/Backups | $0.01/GB-month | $0.042/GB-month | $0.08/GB-month | Regional pricing can shift by storage tier. |
| Data Transfer / Egress | $0.01–$0.09/GB | $0.09/GB | $0.20/GB | Cross-AZ or cross-region transfers add costs. |
| Management / API Overhead | $0.00 | $0.00–$0.01 | $0.05 | Usually bundled; minor for most apps. |
What Drives Price
Storage type, access frequency, and data protection features drive costs. EFS charges primarily by GB-month with occasional access or data retrieval fees, while EBS charges are based on provisioned capacity and performance capabilities. Other factors include data transfer between Availability Zones, snapshots, and the chosen region. For example, EFS IA can reduce storage costs substantially if cold data is infrequently accessed, but retrieval charges can offset savings for active workloads.
Ways To Save
Optimize by tiering and right-sizing volumes. Use EFS IA for less-accessed files and move hot data to EFS Standard or to a more cost-effective EBS tier. Consider lifecycle management, data deletion policies, and scheduling read/write activity to minimize unnecessary data transfer or IOPS provisioning. Regularly review usage to avoid over-provisioning and adjust IOPS or throughput targets to match actual needs.
Regional Price Differences
Prices vary across U.S. regions by up to 20%–30% depending on demand and infrastructure. In practice, a workload in the Northern Virginia region often costs slightly less per GB than in some West Coast or rural regions due to data center density and network costs. When budgeting, compare the exact regional rates for storage, IO, and snapshot storage, as small deltas can compound with multi-terabyte datasets.
Real-World Pricing Examples
Assumptions: region, workload type, and data size vary; see notes in each card.
Basic Scenario
Spec: 500 GB EFS Standard, infrequent access pattern, no cross-region replication.
Storage: 500 GB @ $0.30/GB-month = $150/month. Optional: IA tier for older backups: 200 GB @ $0.03/GB-month = $6/month. Minimal data transfer.
Estimated monthly total: $150–$170 before data transfer or retrieval costs.
Mid-Range Scenario
Spec: 2 TB EBS gp3 with moderate IOPS (_IOPS_ included), plus 300 GB EFS Standard for shared app configs.
Storage gp3: 2,000 GB @ $0.10/GB-month = $200; 300 GB EFS Standard @ $0.30/GB-month = $90. IOPS/throughput may add $20–$40 if provisioned beyond baseline.
Estimated monthly total: $310–$340.
Premium Scenario
Spec: 4 TB EBS io2 with high IOPS, plus 1 TB EFS Standard and regular snapshots (2 TB).
EBS io2: 4,000 GB @ $0.13/GB-month = $520; snapshots 2,000 GB @ $0.042/GB-month = $84; EFS Standard 1 TB @ $0.30/GB-month = $300.
Estimated monthly total: $900–$1,000 depending on snapshot cadence and cross-AZ transfers.
Assumptions: region, specs, labor hours.