How can I get more details on the costs of a database usage on azure?

Question

I have an SQL database that seems rather costly for the usage that I make of it (1000$/mo for ~$4Gb storage + less than 30 of compute per day) but i can't figure out why exactly from the cost management interface.

Is it possible to see a break down of the daily costs at a lower level than just the database itself?

Answer 1

May be below information will help:

Steps to Analyze and Optimize SQL Database Costs

Understand Pricing Tiers and Compute Options:

Azure SQL Database offers various pricing tiers, including Basic, Standard, Premium, and Hyperscale. Each tier has different performance and cost characteristics.

Review your current pricing tier and compute size. You may be over-provisioned for your needs.

Analyze Database Configuration:

Go to the Azure portal, navigate to your SQL Database resource, and check the configuration settings.

Look at the DTU (Database Transaction Units) or vCore (virtual core) allocation.

Compare your needs with the allocated resources. You might be paying for more compute or storage than necessary.

Review Cost Management Data:

In the Azure portal, go to “Cost Management + Billing”.

Select “Cost Management” > “Cost analysis”.

Filter by your SQL Database resource to see a breakdown of costs. Look for unusual spikes or high-cost items.

Monitor Performance Metrics:

Go to your SQL Database resource in the Azure portal.

Select “Metrics” to monitor key performance indicators like DTU consumption, CPU percentage, data I/O, and log I/O.

Identify if there are times of the day or specific operations causing high resource usage.

Check for Unused Resources:

Ensure there are no idle or underutilized databases that are still incurring costs.

Evaluate if you have multiple databases and whether they can be consolidated to save costs.

Query Performance Insight:

Use Query Performance Insight to analyze the performance and cost impact of your queries.

Go to your SQL Database resource, and select “Query Performance Insight”.

Identify long-running or resource-intensive queries that might be optimized.

Consider Auto-pause and Auto-resume:

For databases with intermittent usage, consider using Azure SQL Database serverless, which can auto-pause and resume based on activity.

This can significantly reduce costs by only charging for compute when the database is in use.

Explore Reserved Capacity:

If your usage is predictable, explore the option of purchasing reserved capacity, which can save up to 33% compared to pay-as-you-go pricing.

Analyze Storage Costs:

Verify if there are any large data files or logs consuming excessive storage.

Ensure that you are using the appropriate storage type and redundancy option (e.g., locally-redundant storage vs. geo-redundant storage).