Snowflake
2 credits/hr x $2.5/credit
CA$1,494
Compute
CA$1,321
Storage
CA$172
Annual Projection
CA$17,922
Cost / Query
CA$0.6789
Cost / GB Scanned
CA$0.0068
Currency
CAD
Neutral / Workload-Based / No Login
Data Warehouse Cost Calculator.
Compare Snowflake, Databricks, and BigQuery monthly costs from actual workload inputs: queries, scan volume, storage, cluster time, and dbt model strategy.
SAMPLE OUTPUT
Side-by-side monthly bill
Snowflake $2,174
Databricks $1,857
BigQuery $13,504
The recommendation badge always follows the lowest total at the current inputs.
WORKLOAD INPUTS
Actual monthly usage
Compute
Storage
dbt / Pipeline
CURRENT SCALE
Queries / Month
2,200
Scanned / Month
214.8 TB
dbt Compute
18.3 hr
Databricks
Best Value At Your Scale4 DBU/hr x $0.12/DBU
CA$303
Compute
CA$127
Storage
CA$176
Annual Projection
CA$3,636
Cost / Query
CA$0.1377
Cost / GB Scanned
CA$0.0014
Currency
CAD
BigQuery
On-demand: $6.25/TB × 214.8 TB
CA$1,979
Compute
CA$1,826
Storage
CA$153
Annual Projection
CA$23,752
Cost / Query
CA$0.8997
Cost / GB Scanned
CA$0.0090
Currency
CAD
EDITABLE ASSUMPTIONS
Standard Rates
Defaults are neutral starting points. Change any rate here and the platform totals, recommendation, and break-even chart update immediately.
Snowflake
Databricks
BigQuery + FX
BREAK-EVEN CHART
Total Cost Vs Monthly Scan Volume
SnowflakeDatabricksBigQuery
Pricing defaults come from one config file and can be changed on-page for scenario testing. Snowflake credit price uses $2.5 USD as a neutral default; actual cloud and region rates vary. CAD uses 1.36 CAD/USD in the current view.
PRICING DATA
One file controls the math.
Pricing updates are deployed quickly when vendors change rates. All rates are also editable directly on the page — no code change needed.
Defaults are neutral starting points. Actual costs vary by cloud region, negotiated contracts, and commitment discounts.
SNOWFLAKE
$2.50 / credit
$23/TB-month storage. Warehouse credits scale XS (1 credit/hr) through L (8 credits/hr).
DATABRICKS
$0.12 / DBU
Jobs Compute default. Storage modelled at $0.023/GB-month (object storage).
BIGQUERY
$6.25 / TB
Compares on-demand query pricing against a 100-slot reservation baseline. Picks the cheaper path automatically.
FAQ
Common questions.
Everything you need to know about how the calculator works and what the numbers mean.
How does the Snowflake estimate work?
Active warehouse hours (plus dbt pipeline hours) × credits per hour for your chosen size (XS=1, S=2, M=4, L=8) × credit price. Storage is calculated separately at $23/TB-month. All rates are editable.
How does the Databricks estimate work?
Active hours × DBU per hour for your cluster size × Jobs Compute DBU rate ($0.12 default). Storage uses object storage pricing at $0.023/GB-month. dbt hours are included in active compute time.
How does BigQuery's dual-path pricing work?
BigQuery offers two billing models. On-demand charges $6.25 per TB scanned. Slot reservations charge a flat monthly rate for a fixed number of query slots. The calculator computes both and automatically shows the cheaper option for your workload.
Is this calculator neutral — does it favour any vendor?
Completely neutral. The "Best Value" badge goes to whichever platform has the lowest total at your inputs. dwcost.com has no affiliate relationship with Snowflake, Databricks, or Google.
Does the calculator account for dbt model runs?
Yes. Enter the number of dbt models, runs per day, and choose incremental (25% compute factor — only new rows processed) or full-refresh (100% — entire table rebuilt each run). The resulting compute hours are added to all three platform estimates.
Is my workload data sent to a server?
No. All calculations run entirely in your browser. No workload inputs, query volumes, or cost estimates are ever transmitted to any server.
Can I see costs in Canadian dollars (CAD)?
Yes. Toggle the USD/CAD switch at the top of the calculator. The default rate is 1.36 CAD/USD, which you can override in the Editable Assumptions panel to use a live rate.
How accurate are the pricing defaults?
Defaults are based on publicly available list prices and are neutral starting points. Actual costs vary by cloud region, negotiated enterprise contracts, and commitment discounts. Override any rate in the Editable Assumptions panel to match your actual contract terms.
NOTES
Neutral by design.
No Vendor Bias
The best-value callout is whichever total is lowest. The calculator has no commercial relationship with any platform vendor.
CAD Display
Uses a fixed 1.36 CAD/USD multiplier stated clearly in the UI. Override it in the Assumptions panel to use a live rate. No backend FX call is made.
Estimates, Not Invoices
Results are directional estimates based on list prices. Enterprise discounts, committed-use contracts, and regional pricing variations are not modelled unless you override the rates manually.