RDS database size minimal but getting charged for Gigabytes

Question

I would like to know how AWS calculates billing for database sizes.
I currently use an RDS MySQL database for a web log platform.
The RDS instance is provisioned in the Asia Pacific Region (Sydney).
Storage is 200Gb GP SSD. I selected free tier MySQL.

I have removed any manual snapshots and disabled automated backups. There are no snapshots associated with the instance.
When I connect to the database from an EC-2 instance with MySQL client and check the database size it is telling me all of the databases on the RDS instance come under 20MB (In total for all schema's).

However, billing is saying I am using 60GB-month?!
I believe I am still under the free tier threshold but I am not sure where the provisioned GP2 storage running MySQL is coming from?

I am really unsure as to why I am being charged for RDS?

Accepted Answer

Hi, the free tier includes 20 GB of provisioned storage, but you've provisioned 200 GB.  It doesn't matter how much of this your DB is using and how much is free space, you are charged "rental" on that 200 GB of SSD storage allocated to you.  You'll be charged for the excess 180 GB, which over a month will be a charge of 180 GB-mo; i.e. in a third of a month you'll be charged 60 GB-mo.

Answer

Hi Skinsman,

Thank you for the explanation and yes that fits exactly with what has occurred on my account.
Literally just recreated my database for this reason. Found it in another guide for creating a free tier RDS database.
Clearly, I misconfigured. But I have to say having 200 as the default number in the allocated storage box is a bit misguiding for beginners.
Perhaps having it as 20 would be a nicer fit if someone chooses "Free Tier".
But hey, that's just my opinion.

RDS database size minimal but getting charged for Gigabytes

Relevant content