Multi-Region Network Cost Reality

Multi-region traffic is expensive. The cost model and the patterns that minimise.

Cost model

Inter-region: $0.02-0.08 per GB. Compare to intra-region: free or near-free.

Replication, sync, cross-region API calls all multiply the cost.

Minimisation

Cache aggressively. Recompute beats re-fetch.

Compress before transferring.

Design for it

Per-region read replicas: writes cross-region; reads stay local.

Shard by region. Each region serves its users; cross-region traffic is rare.