For many SMEs in Malaysia, Google Cloud Storage (GCS) is the go-to option for storing files, images, backups, and even hosting websites. It’s reliable and integrates easily with other Google Cloud services.
But here’s the challenge: GCS pricing isn’t just about paying for storage space. There are hidden costs—like request fees, data retrieval, and network egress—that can quietly push up your monthly bill.
This guide breaks down the latest 2025 Google Cloud Storage rates and gives you practical tips to save money without cutting performance.
And if managing all this sounds overwhelming, that’s where BigBull Technology comes in—we help Malaysian businesses get the best deals on Google Cloud, backed by Elite Cloud’s proven technical expertise.
1. What is Google Cloud Storage (GCS)?
GCS is Google Cloud’s object storage service, designed to be highly available, durable, and scalable. Think of it as a digital warehouse for your business data—whether it’s website content, backups, or analytics files.
It comes in four storage classes: Standard, Nearline, Coldline, and Archive, each with different pricing depending on how often you access your data. The right choice can make a huge difference in your bill.
📌 For a deeper look at Google Cloud Storage classes, you can refer to the official documentation here: Cloud Storage Classes
2. How Google Cloud Storage is Charged
Your bill is usually made up of three parts:
- Storage costs – what you pay per GB of space
- Operations costs – fees for requests (uploads, downloads, retrievals)
- Network costs – charges for sending data out of GCP (egress)
👉 Many SMEs only look at storage cost per GB but forget about the other two, which often cause bill shock.
The list above only covers the main Google Cloud Storage charges. In actual usage, there may be additional costs (such as lifecycle management or versioning). For the full details and the most up-to-date rates, we recommend checking the official Google Cloud Pricing page.
2.1 Storage Costs by Class
Here’s a simplified breakdown (per GB, per month):
| Storage Class | Price (per GB/month) | Recommended Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $0.020 | Frequent access, e.g., website images |
| Nearline | $0.010 | Occasional access, e.g., monthly backups |
| Coldline | $0.005 | Quarterly or less frequent access |
| Archive | $0.0015 | Long-term archival and compliance storage |
💡 Multi-region storage is more expensive. For most Malaysian SMEs, regional storage (e.g., Singapore) is enough.
2.2 Operations Costs
Every upload, update, or retrieval counts as a request.
| Operation Type | Standard | Nearline | Coldline | Archive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Retrieval (per GB) | $0.00 | $0.01 | $0.02 | $0.05 |
| Class A Requests (per 1,000) | $0.005 | $0.10 | $0.02 | $0.50 |
| Class B Requests (per 10,000) | $0.0004 | $0.001 | $0.01 | $0.05 |
2.3 Network Costs
- Upload to GCS → Free
- Download from GCS (egress) → Charged
| Egress Volume | Price (per GB) |
|---|---|
| 0–1 TB | $0.12 |
| 1–10 TB | $0.11 |
| 10 TB+ | $0.08 |
👉 If your app or VM is in the same region as your GCS bucket, transfers are usually free. Many SMEs don’t realise this and pay extra for cross-region traffic.
3. Cost Example: Hosting 1 TB of Images
If you store 1 TB of website images, with:
- 1 million GET requests
- 110 GB egress traffic
Your monthly estimate would be:
| Item | Quantity | Unit Price | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage (Standard) | 1,000 GB | $0.020/GB | $20.00 |
| GET Requests | 1,000,000 | $0.004 per 10k | $4.00 |
| Network Egress | 110 GB | $0.12/GB | $13.20 |
| Total | — | — | $37.20/month |
Seems cheap at first, but if you scale to 10 TB and heavy traffic, the bill multiplies fast.
4. Cost-Saving Tips for Malaysian SMEs
- Pick the right storage class – Don’t keep backups in Standard. Move them to Nearline, Coldline, or Archive.
- Bundle small files – Too many tiny files = higher request fees. Compress or group them.
- Enable Cloud CDN – Cache static files to cut down egress traffic.
- Stay in one region – Keep Compute Engine, Functions, and Storage in the same region (e.g., Singapore) to avoid cross-region fees.
- Leverage a local reseller like BigBull – We help you get discounts, flexible payments (bank transfer, card, or USDT), and local support.
5. Why Buy Through BigBull Technology?
If you buy GCP directly with an international credit card, you face:
- Overseas transaction fees
- Currency fluctuations
- Limited billing support
✅ With BigBull Technology, you get:
- Local invoices
- Access to discounted GCP rates
- Flexible payment options (bank transfer, card, USDT)
- In-country support, with Elite Cloud technical backing
That means lower bills + smoother support for your business.
Final Thoughts
Google Cloud Storage is powerful, but without proper cost control, your bill can easily spiral.
Malaysian SMEs don’t need to overspend—BigBull Technology can help you optimise your storage setup, cut costs, and keep your cloud budget lean.
👉 Reach out to BigBull today for a free GCP cost review and start saving on your cloud bill.
