Cost Breakdown of a Dataset to tables

[sroy-kec]

Hey, We have billing reporting enabled GCP and all the detailed costs goes to BQ Table. I was analysing the table and found that the cost for bigquery storage is reported at dataset level. I would like to know this cost at table level so that i can attribute it to the teams. 

Is there any way to attribute the cost of tables within a dataset

[ms4446 · Accepted solution]

Directly attributing BigQuery storage costs to individual tables within a dataset is not a built-in feature in standard Cloud Billing exports to BigQuery. The billing data granularity is typically at the dataset level. However, there are strategies you can employ to estimate or indirectly attribute table-level storage costs in BigQuery:

1. Table Size Estimation and Proportional Allocation:

   • Regularly query table sizes using BigQuery's Information Schema or the TABLESIZE function to determine the storage size of individual tables.
   • Calculate the proportion of each table's size relative to the total dataset size.
   • Allocate costs proportionally by multiplying the total dataset storage cost from your billing report by the size ratio of each table.
   • Caveats: This method provides an estimation and may vary due to factors like data compression. It also requires regular updates as table sizes change.

2. Using Custom Labels:

   • Apply custom labels (key-value pairs) to your BigQuery tables to designate teams, projects, or cost centers.
   • Write SQL queries against your billing export table in BigQuery, grouping storage costs by the custom labels.
   • Caveats: This requires upfront effort and ongoing maintenance to label tables accurately. It might not be suitable for fine-grained cost allocation if tables are used across multiple teams or projects.

3. Leveraging BigQuery Audit Logs (with Limitations):

   • BigQuery audit logs can track data access events, including queries, which can be analyzed to identify frequently accessed tables.
   • Limitations: Audit logs do not inherently capture storage size, and analyzing query logs for cost attribution can be complex. This method provides insights into table usage patterns but doesn't directly translate to storage costs.

4. Third-Party Tools or Custom Solutions:

   • Consider using third-party cloud cost management tools that offer more granular cost reporting and attribution for BigQuery.
   • Develop custom scripts or solutions for sophisticated cost allocation models, if necessary.
   • Important Considerations: Choose a method based on the level of granularity required, available resources, and the complexity of your table usage patterns.

Additional Tips:

• Data Currency and Billing Delays: Be aware that billing data in BigQuery might have a slight delay. Factor this into your analysis.
• Regular Review and Validation: Periodically review your cost allocation methods to ensure they remain accurate and reflect changes in table usage and size.