AWS Kubernetes Pricing Breakdown for Containerized Workloads

In today’s cloud-native world, containerization has gone from a developer’s trick to a global best practice. According to CNCF’s 2024 annual report, over 90% of global organizations have adopted containers in production, and Kubernetes leads the orchestration game. AWS, being the biggest public cloud provider, offers its managed Kubernetes service—Amazon EKS (Elastic Kubernetes Service)—to simplify deployment, scaling, and management of containerized workloads.

But here’s the kicker: while AWS EKS simplifies Kubernetes operations, pricing can be complex, especially when you're running at scale. In a region like India where cost-efficiency is crucial, understanding AWS Kubernetes pricing can help businesses avoid billing surprises and optimize their infrastructure spend.

If you're exploring cloud deployment, deciding between colocation or managed server environments, or comparing platforms like Cyfuture Cloud, this blog will help you break down AWS Kubernetes pricing and assess your options smartly.

Understanding AWS Kubernetes (Amazon EKS) at a Glance

Amazon EKS is a fully managed Kubernetes service that allows you to run Kubernetes without the burden of maintaining your own control plane or etcd. The idea is simple: you focus on your apps; AWS manages the core infrastructure.

However, AWS Kubernetes pricing is multi-layered, with costs coming from multiple sources:

The EKS control plane

EC2 or Fargate compute resources

Data storage and networking

Add-ons and load balancing

Optional integrations and monitoring tools

And this is where it gets tricky—understanding what you’re paying for, and whether that cost structure aligns with your scaling needs.

AWS Kubernetes Pricing Components: A Detailed Breakdown

Let’s dive into the major pricing categories you’ll encounter when deploying Kubernetes workloads on AWS.

1. EKS Control Plane Pricing

₹7.5/hour (~$0.10/hour) per EKS cluster
That’s ~₹5,400 per month per cluster just for running the control plane.

Tip: If you're deploying multiple small applications, consider consolidating them under fewer clusters to save on this fixed cost.

2. Compute Resources (EC2 or Fargate)

This is where most of the cost lies.

EC2 Instances:
You’re billed based on the type of EC2 instance (e.g., t3.medium, m5.large) and hours used.
Example:

t3.medium: ₹700–₹900/month

m5.large: ₹1,800–₹2,400/month

High-performance GPU or memory-optimized nodes will cost more.

Fargate:
Fargate allows you to run containers without provisioning EC2 instances.
Pricing:

vCPU: ~₹2.20 per vCPU-second

Memory: ~₹0.25 per GB-second

Fargate is ideal for bursty, short-lived workloads but can get expensive if you're running long-lived, steady-state services.

3. EBS Storage (Persistent Volume Claims)

AWS charges for block storage through Elastic Block Store (EBS)

General Purpose SSD (gp3):

~₹8 per GB per month

Additional IOPS and throughput are extra

A 100 GB storage volume would cost ~₹800 per month.

4. Data Transfer and Networking

Inter-AZ traffic: ₹1.20–₹1.80/GB

Egress to internet: ₹6.50–₹10/GB, depending on volume

Internal VPC transfer within the same AZ is free.

Note: If your containers are chatty across zones or internet-facing, these costs can snowball quickly.

5. Load Balancing and Ingress

Using AWS Load Balancer Controller to expose Kubernetes services:

ALB: ₹1,000–₹1,400 per month + data charges

NLB: Slightly cheaper and used for high-throughput apps

Elastic IPs and NAT gateways come with additional charges (~₹450–₹750/month per NAT Gateway)

6. Monitoring and Logging

You can integrate:

Amazon CloudWatch

AWS X-Ray

Prometheus/Grafana on EKS

Pricing varies by volume:

Logs: ₹0.50 per GB ingested

Metrics: ₹0.35 per 1,000 metrics per month

Monthly Estimate Example for a Mid-Sized Team

Costs will vary depending on compute type, app usage, and traffic patterns.

Hidden Costs to Watch Out For

Underutilized nodes — You’re still billed even if pods are idle

Inter-cluster communication — Unplanned cross-AZ data traffic

Cluster sprawl — More clusters = more control plane charges

IAM & Security Layer Overheads — You may need to implement role-based access and audit logs, which adds complexity

Alternatives: How Cyfuture Cloud Simplifies Kubernetes Hosting

If you’re based in India and want more predictable billing, lower latency, and fully managed Kubernetes clusters, Cyfuture Cloud offers a strong alternative.

Why Choose Cyfuture Cloud for Container Hosting:

Transparent Pricing: No multi-layered charges; flat rates available

Hosted in India: Data localization compliance + ultra-low latency

Integrated Add-ons: Ingress, monitoring, backups, and CI/CD integration included

Colocation Option: Bring your own server hardware and deploy in their Tier III+ data centers

24x7 Support: With engineers trained in Kubernetes and DevOps

AWS vs. Cyfuture Cloud: A Quick Comparison

Conclusion: Make Informed Kubernetes Decisions

Running Kubernetes on AWS gives you enterprise-grade scalability, security, and integration—but at the cost of complex billing, unpredictable expenses, and steep learning curves. If your team has Kubernetes expertise and global expansion plans, EKS is a strong choice.

However, if your focus is cost control, local data sovereignty, or getting up and running quickly without managing layers of pricing metrics, Cyfuture Cloud’s managed Kubernetes offering is well worth exploring. It simplifies the hosting, colocation, and cloud costs—all while letting you focus on your applications.