Cost of Hosting a Static Website on AWS
Hosting a static website on AWS (Amazon Web Services) can be a cost-effective solution, but it depends on various factors such as traffic, storage, and additional features. Let’s break down the costs associated with hosting a static website on AWS using popular services like Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service) and Amazon CloudFront.
1. Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service)
Amazon S3 is the primary service used to store the static files (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images) of your website.
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Storage Costs: The first factor to consider is how much data you plan to store. The cost of storing files on S3 is typically around $0.023 per GB per month for the first 50TB.
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Data Transfer Costs: If visitors are downloading your files, there are additional charges for data transfer. The first 1GB of data transfer out each month is free. After that, it costs approximately:
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$0.09 per GB for the first 10TB per month.
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$0.085 per GB for the next 40TB per month.
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For example, if your website has 5GB of files and generates 100GB of data transfer per month, the costs would look like this:
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Storage cost: 5GB x $0.023 = $0.115/month
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Data transfer cost: (100GB – 1GB free) x $0.09 = $8.91/month
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Total cost: $9.03/month
2. Amazon CloudFront (CDN)
To ensure your static website loads faster globally, you can use Amazon CloudFront, AWS’s Content Delivery Network (CDN). This helps distribute content across multiple servers, reducing latency for users.
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CloudFront Pricing: The cost of using CloudFront depends on the region and the amount of data delivered. Typically, it costs around:
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$0.085 per GB for data transfer out to the internet.
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$0.02 per 10,000 requests for HTTP/HTTPS requests.
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3. Route 53 (DNS Service)
If you want a custom domain for your website, you can use Amazon Route 53 to manage your DNS. The cost is:
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$0.50 per hosted zone per month.
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$0.40 per million queries for the first billion queries.
4. SSL Certificate (Optional)
If you want to serve your website over HTTPS (which is recommended), you will need an SSL certificate. You can use AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) to get a free SSL certificate for your domain.
5. Other Possible Costs
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AWS Lambda: If you want to add serverless functionalities to your website (e.g., contact form submissions), you might use AWS Lambda, which has a free tier for up to 1 million requests per month.
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AWS WAF: If you need additional security, AWS Web Application Firewall (WAF) will cost extra.
Example Monthly Cost Breakdown for a Basic Static Website:
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Amazon S3 storage (5GB): $0.115
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Data transfer (100GB): $8.91
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CloudFront (20GB data transfer, 100,000 requests): $1.70
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Route 53 (1 hosted zone): $0.50
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SSL certificate (free): $0
Total Estimated Monthly Cost: $11.215/month
This is a basic estimate for a small, static website with moderate traffic. Costs will increase with higher data transfer, additional features, or custom domain configurations.
FAQs
1. Is hosting a static website on AWS free?
AWS offers a free tier for new customers, which includes 5GB of S3 storage and 15GB of data transfer for the first year. After that, charges apply based on usage.
2. Can I use AWS to host my website for a low cost?
Yes, AWS can be a low-cost solution for small websites. However, costs scale with traffic and data usage. It’s important to monitor usage regularly.
3. How do I set up a static website on AWS?
You can set up a static website by uploading your files to Amazon S3 and configuring it for website hosting. You may also use CloudFront for better performance.
4. Do I need a custom domain for my static website?
No, you can host your website using the default AWS URL. However, using a custom domain with Route 53 improves professionalism and branding.
5. Are there any hidden fees when hosting on AWS?
Most costs are transparent, but additional services like Lambda, WAF, or heavy CloudFront usage can lead to higher costs.
For more detailed offers on hosting and discounts, check out the resources on Host Discount Code.