Pricing Overview
Azure ExpressRoute pricing is based on several factors, including the speed of your connection, the data you transfer, and the location of your Azure datacenter. We offer flexible options to suit your business needs.
| Component | Description | Pricing Model | Example Cost (Illustrative) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Speed | The bandwidth of your ExpressRoute circuit. | Monthly fee per port (e.g., 50 Mbps, 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 10 Gbps). | $100 - $2000+ / month (depends on speed & region) |
| Data Transfer | Amount of data sent and received through the ExpressRoute circuit. | Outbound data transfer from Azure is typically free. Inbound data transfer is charged per GB. | $0.02 - $0.10 / GB (depends on region) |
| Cross-Region Peering | Connecting to Azure regions beyond your primary peering location. | Per-GB charge for data transferred between paired regions. | $0.05 - $0.15 / GB |
| Provider Charges | Fees from your network service provider for the physical connectivity. | Varies significantly by provider and service level. | (Contact your provider) |
Key Pricing Factors Explained
Port Speed & Monthly Fees
The fundamental cost of ExpressRoute is the monthly fee for the ExpressRoute port. This fee is determined by the speed of the circuit you provision (e.g., 50 Mbps, 100 Mbps, 200 Mbps, 500 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 2 Gbps, 5 Gbps, 10 Gbps). Higher speeds incur higher monthly costs.
Note: The exact pricing for port speeds can vary by Azure region.
Data Transfer Costs
Azure ExpressRoute offers a very attractive data transfer pricing model. Data transferred outbound from Azure to your on-premises network is generally free. Data transferred inbound to Azure is charged on a per-gigabyte (GB) basis. This is a significant cost advantage for high-bandwidth applications.
Example inbound data transfer rates are approximately $0.02 to $0.10 per GB, depending on the Azure region.
Global Reach & Cross-Region Peering
If you need to connect to multiple Azure regions, ExpressRoute supports cross-region peering. Data transferred between Azure regions via ExpressRoute is typically charged on a per-GB basis. This allows you to build resilient and geographically distributed solutions.
Provider-Specific Charges
Remember that ExpressRoute pricing from Microsoft only covers the Azure side of the connection. You will also incur charges from your network service provider (e.g., AT&T, Verizon, Lumen, Equinix) for the physical circuit and connectivity to an ExpressRoute provider edge router. These costs are separate and vary widely.
Important Considerations
- Azure Regions: Pricing can vary slightly between Azure regions. Check the Azure pricing calculator for specific region costs.
- Unlimited Data: ExpressRoute circuits come with unlimited data processing. You only pay for the data transfer in (inbound) and the port speed.
- SKUs: ExpressRoute offers different SKUs (e.g., Standard, Premium) which have different feature sets and pricing. The Premium add-on typically offers increased routing capabilities and global connectivity.
- Bandwidth Aggregation: You can provision multiple ExpressRoute circuits or use dedicated circuits with higher bandwidth for critical workloads.
- Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Understand the SLAs offered by both Microsoft and your network provider.