aws_directconnect_gateway cost estimation

An aws_directconnect_gateway is a global object that lets a single Direct Connect connection reach virtual private gateways or transit gateways across multiple regions and accounts. The gateway itself is free. It is routing glue, not a billed component.

The real cost of Direct Connect is elsewhere. First, port hours: a dedicated connection is billed per hour for the port capacity you provision (for example, a 1 Gbps port runs on the order of $0.30/hour, roughly $220/month), and hosted connections are billed by the partner. Second, Direct Connect data transfer out: traffic leaving AWS over Direct Connect is billed per GB at rates well below internet egress (often in the $0.02 to $0.05/GB range depending on the DX location and the source region), and data transfer in is free. The Direct Connect gateway lets you fan that one connection out to many regions, but it does not itself add a line item.

Because the gateway is free, cost management is about the connection and its usage: right-sizing port speed to actual throughput, and using Direct Connect for sustained high-volume traffic where its lower per-GB rate pays back the port cost versus VPN or internet egress. c3x prices the Direct Connect connection and its data transfer and treats the Direct Connect gateway as free.

Terraform example

A minimal but realistic configuration that C3X can estimate.

resource "aws_dx_gateway" "main" {
  name            = "main-dxgw"
  amazon_side_asn = "64512"
}

Pricing dimensions

What you actually pay for when you provision aws_directconnect_gateway.

Dimension	Unit	What's being charged
Direct Connect gateway	free	The global routing gateway has no charge. $0
Connection port hours	per hour	The Direct Connect connection is billed hourly for the provisioned port capacity. 1 Gbps: ~$0.30/hour (~$220/month)
Data transfer out over Direct Connect	per GB	Egress over Direct Connect is billed per GB, below internet rates; inbound is free. ~$0.02 to $0.05/GB

Optimization tips

Common ways to reduce aws_directconnect_gateway cost without changing the workload.

Right-size the port speed

Lower port-hour tier

Port hours are billed on provisioned capacity, not usage. Match the port speed to real sustained throughput instead of over-provisioning a 10 Gbps port for 1 Gbps of traffic.

Move sustained egress off VPN and internet

Direct Connect per-GB egress is far below internet or VPN egress. For steady high-volume on-premises traffic, the lower rate offsets the port cost over time.

Fan out one connection with the gateway

Because the Direct Connect gateway is free, use it to reach multiple regions and VPCs from a single billed connection rather than provisioning more ports.

FAQ

Does a Direct Connect gateway cost money?

No. The Direct Connect gateway is a free global routing object. Cost comes from the Direct Connect connection's port hours and the data transfer out that flows over it.

What actually drives Direct Connect cost?

Port hours for the provisioned connection capacity (for example about $220/month for a 1 Gbps dedicated port) and per-GB data transfer out, which is billed below internet egress rates. Inbound transfer is free.

Is Direct Connect cheaper than a VPN?

For sustained high-volume traffic, often yes: its per-GB egress is much lower than VPN or internet egress, which offsets the port cost. For low-volume or intermittent connectivity, a VPN's ~$36/month connection is usually cheaper.