aws_directory_service_directory cost estimation
A managed directory (Microsoft AD, Simple AD, or AD Connector) billed per hour. Standard Microsoft AD is ~$88/month; Simple AD is cheaper.
An aws_directory_service_directory provisions a managed directory — AWS Managed Microsoft AD, Simple AD, or AD Connector. Cost is a per-hour fee that depends on the type and edition, billed continuously.
AWS Managed Microsoft AD Standard Edition runs two domain controllers for high availability at ~$0.06/DC-hour, so ~$87.60/month; Enterprise Edition costs more. Simple AD (a Samba-based directory) is cheaper and suits basic needs without full Microsoft AD features. AD Connector, which proxies to your on-premises AD, is the lowest-cost option since it runs no managed directory itself.
The directory is consumed by other services — WorkSpaces, RDS SQL Server Windows Authentication, EC2 domain joins — so it's often a supporting cost behind a larger deployment. The decision is which directory type matches your needs: don't pay for Managed Microsoft AD if Simple AD or AD Connector covers the requirement.
c3x prices the directory from its type (Microsoft AD vs Simple AD), so the standing monthly cost is visible before deployment.
Terraform example
A minimal but realistic configuration that C3X can estimate.
resource "aws_directory_service_directory" "corp" {
name = "corp.example.com"
password = var.directory_password
type = "MicrosoftAD"
edition = "Standard"
vpc_settings {
vpc_id = aws_vpc.main.id
subnet_ids = aws_subnet.private[*].id
}
}Pricing dimensions
What you actually pay for when you provision aws_directory_service_directory.
| Dimension | Unit | What's being charged |
|---|---|---|
| Directory | per hour | Per-hour fee by type and edition, billed continuously. Managed Microsoft AD runs two DCs for HA; Simple AD and AD Connector are cheaper. $0.06/DC-hour → Microsoft AD Standard (2 DCs) ≈ $87.60/month |
Sample C3X output
AWS Managed Microsoft AD, Standard Edition (2 domain controllers), 24/7:
aws_directory_service_directory.corp
└─ Directory (Microsoft AD Standard, 2 DCs) 1460 hours $87.60
Monthly $87.60Optimization tips
Common ways to reduce aws_directory_service_directory cost without changing the workload.
Match the directory type to actual needs
Type-dependent, often substantialManaged Microsoft AD is the priciest. If you only need basic LDAP/Kerberos and user management, Simple AD is cheaper; if you have an on-prem AD to extend, AD Connector (a lightweight proxy) is the lowest-cost option.
Use Standard, not Enterprise, edition unless required
Difference between editionsManaged Microsoft AD Enterprise Edition costs more for larger object counts and multi-region replication. Standard suits most directories; only move to Enterprise when the scale or region requirements demand it.
Share one directory across consumers
Per avoided directoryA single directory can back multiple WorkSpaces deployments, RDS instances, and EC2 domain joins. Don't provision separate directories per consuming service when one covers them.
Decommission directories for retired workloads
Full directory cost when retiredA directory bills continuously whether or not anything authenticates against it. Reclaim directories left behind by decommissioned WorkSpaces or applications.
FAQ
How is AWS Directory Service billed?
A per-hour fee by directory type and edition, billed continuously. Managed Microsoft AD Standard runs two domain controllers for HA at ~$88/month; Simple AD is cheaper, and AD Connector (a proxy to on-prem AD) is the lowest-cost option.
Which directory type is cheapest?
AD Connector, since it runs no managed directory — it proxies to your existing on-premises AD. Simple AD is next, for basic needs. Managed Microsoft AD is the priciest but provides full Microsoft AD features and HA.
How does c3x estimate the cost?
From the type (Microsoft AD vs Simple AD), pricing the standing per-hour directory fee. It's often a supporting cost behind WorkSpaces, RDS, or EC2 domain joins.
Related resources
Estimate this resource in your own Terraform
Free, open source, no API key. C3X parses your Terraform and shows line-item cost for every resource, including aws_directory_service_directory.