Clarification on Direct Connect Gateway and Data Transfer Out (DTO) Charges

Question

According to the AWS Direct Connect pricing page, it states:

"If you are using an AWS Direct Connect gateway, you will pay applicable DTO data rates based on the AWS Region that is the source of the traffic and AWS Direct Connect location where it is connected."

However, the terminology in the pricing table particularly the reference to “Contiguous States” is a bit ambiguous. It’s unclear whether this includes same-region connections (e.g., a DX circuit in useast-1 connecting to a TGW in useast-1 via DXGW), or if the same base DTO charge applies regardless of whether the Direct Connect and TGW are in the same or different regions.

To clarify:
Does the standard DTO fee (e.g., $0.02/GB within the contiguous U.States) apply even for same-region traffic when using a Direct Connect Gateway?
Is there a difference in charge when traffic stays entirely within a single region (e.g., useast-1 DX to useast-1 TGW)?
Does “Contiguous United States” pricing apply uniformly to all U.States regions regardless of whether the traffic is inter-region or not?

I appreciate any guidance or confirmation anyone can provide

Eloy Pascal · Answer

hi, the pricing scenarios described are highlighted in the following article https://docs.aws.amazon.com/wellarchitected/latest/hybrid-networking-lens/cost-optimization-pillar.html - please review and let me know if that helps.

re:Post Agent · Answer

Based on the information available, I can provide some clarification on the Direct Connect Gateway (DXGW) and Data Transfer Out (DTO) charges:

1. The standard DTO fee does apply even for same-region traffic when using a Direct Connect Gateway. The pricing is based on the source AWS Region of the traffic and the AWS Direct Connect location where it is connected, regardless of whether the traffic stays within the same region or not.

2. There is no difference in charge when traffic stays entirely within a single region. For example, if you're using a Direct Connect circuit in us-east-1 connecting to a Transit Gateway (TGW) in us-east-1 via DXGW, you would still incur the standard DTO charge for that region.

3. The "Contiguous United States" pricing does apply uniformly to all U.S. regions, regardless of whether the traffic is inter-region or not. This means that the same base DTO charge (e.g., $0.02/GB) would apply for data transfer out from any AWS Region in the contiguous United States to an AWS Direct Connect location.

It's important to note that while inbound data transfer (into AWS) is free at all AWS Direct Connect locations, outbound data transfer is charged based on the pricing table provided by AWS. The charges can vary depending on the specific AWS Region and Direct Connect location involved.

Additionally, when using a Direct Connect Gateway, you pay for the data processing charges of the Transit Gateway in addition to the DTO charges. These charges are separate and are based on the amount of data processed by the Transit Gateway.

Remember that pricing can be complex and may change, so it's always a good idea to use the AWS Pricing Calculator or consult with AWS support for the most accurate and up-to-date pricing information for your specific use case.
      
**Sources**  
[Dedicated Network Connection - AWS Direct Connect Pricing - Amazon Web Services](https://aws.amazon.com/directconnect/pricing/)  
[Connecting to RISE from your AWS account - General SAP Guides](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/sap/latest/general/rise-accounts.html)  
[Cost optimization pillar - Hybrid Networking Lens](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/wellarchitected/latest/hybrid-networking-lens/cost-optimization-pillar.html)

Clarification on Direct Connect Gateway and Data Transfer Out (DTO) Charges

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