AWS S3 is one of the most widely used storage services on AWS. But for many SMEs, its billing can be confusing. You don’t just pay for storage space—there are also charges for requests, data transfers, and management features. If not managed properly, your monthly bill can quickly spiral.
For businesses in Malaysia, where every ringgit counts, understanding Amazon S3 pricing in 2025 is the first step to controlling costs. In this guide, BigBull Technology breaks down the latest rates, explains how charges work, and shares simple cost-saving strategies you can apply right away.
What is AWS S3?
Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service) is AWS’s core object storage platform. It’s secure, durable, and highly scalable, making it suitable for:
- Hosting website images and videos
- Storing backups and archives
- Keeping raw analytics data
S3 also integrates easily with other AWS services like IAM (for access control) and CloudFront (CDN for faster global delivery). For many companies, it’s the first step into cloud adoption.
AWS S3 Storage Classes: Pick the Right One to Save Money
AWS offers different storage classes, each optimized for a specific use case. Choosing wisely is key:
- S3 Standard – Best for frequently accessed data like app content.
- S3 Intelligent-Tiering – Automatically shifts data between tiers depending on usage. Great for unpredictable workloads.
- S3 Standard-IA – “Infrequent Access,” cheaper but with retrieval costs, ideal for backups.
- S3 One Zone-IA – Stored in a single Availability Zone, lower price but less protection.
- S3 Glacier Instant Retrieval – Low-cost storage with millisecond access.
- S3 Glacier Flexible Retrieval – Hours-level retrieval for archives.
- S3 Glacier Deep Archive – Cheapest, but retrieval takes up to 12 hours.
👉 For SMEs in Malaysia, Intelligent-Tiering is often the safest “set and forget” option if you’re unsure about your access patterns.
AWS S3 Pricing Components
Your S3 bill comes from four main items:
- Storage costs – Pay per GB, depending on the storage class.
- Request & retrieval costs – Based on the number of operations (GET, PUT, LIST).
- Data transfer costs – Only when data leaves AWS (to internet or other regions).
- Extra features – Such as lifecycle policies, replication, and S3 inventory reports.
Example Prices (Hong Kong Region)
Since AWS doesn’t yet have a data center in Malaysia, most local users choose Singapore or Hong Kong regions. Here are reference rates:
- AWS S3 Standard – ~USD 0.023/GB
- AWS S3 Standard-IA – ~USD 0.0138/GB
- AWS S3 Glacier Instant Retrieval – ~USD 0.005/GB
- AWS S3 Glacier Deep Archive – ~USD 0.002/GB
Request charges (S3 Standard):
- GET, LIST: ~USD 0.0004 per 1,000 requests
- PUT, COPY: ~USD 0.005 per 1,000 requests
Data transfer (Hong Kong region):
- First 100GB per month – Free
- Next 10TB – USD 0.12/GB
- Larger volumes – From USD 0.085/GB
Cost Example: Hosting 1TB of Images
If you store 1TB of images with 1 million GET requests and 110GB of outbound traffic:
- Storage: ~USD 25
- Requests: ~USD 0.40
- Transfer out: ~USD 1.20
Total: ~USD 26.60/month (~RM 125)
Not bad, but costs can grow quickly without monitoring.
4 Easy Ways to Save on AWS S3 Costs
- Use Lifecycle Policies
- Move older data to Standard-IA or Glacier after 30–90 days.
- Analyse usage with S3 Storage Class Analysis before setting rules.
- Reduce Small File Requests
- Combine small files (e.g., tar/gzip) to cut down on request charges.
- Batch-process logs or analytics files.
- Leverage CloudFront
- Cache frequently accessed content closer to your users.
- Cuts data transfer charges and improves speed.
- Avoid Cross-Region Replication Unless Necessary
- It doubles storage and transfer costs.
- For SMEs, multi-AZ within one region is usually enough.
Why Buy AWS from BigBull Technology in Malaysia?
If you pay AWS directly, you’ll deal with foreign billing, card exchange rates, and no local support. With BigBull Technology, you get:
- Official local invoices (MYR)
- Flexible payment options – bank transfer, card, or USDT
- Discounted AWS pricing through reseller deals
- Local support in Malaysia, backed by Elite Cloud’s technical expertise
👉 This means you save costs, avoid billing headaches, and get direct help when you need it.
Conclusion: Smart S3 Usage = Lower Cloud Bills
AWS S3 is powerful, but the costs can be tricky. For Malaysian SMEs, the key is choosing the right storage class, reducing unnecessary requests, and using lifecycle policies. With BigBull Technology as your local AWS reseller, you not only save money but also get peace of mind with in-country support.
🚀 Want to check if your current AWS S3 bill is too high? Contact BigBull Technology for a free cost analysis and savings plan.
