With AWS Cost Modeling (beta), you can quickly add AWS cost information to Lucidchart diagrams to make better architecture decisions and streamline the financial approval process. Read this article to learn more.

This beta feature is only available for the AWS 2019 shape library within the Lucidchart editor and is only available for users with a Lucidscale creator license and a Lucidchart license. Prices come directly from the AWS Price List API. Lucid pulls the prices each day to ensure they stay up to date.

Access Cost Modeling

To access Cost Modeling in Lucidchart, you will need to add the AWS Architecture 2019 shape library and then add the cost to them. Read on to learn more.

Add the AWS Architecture 2019 shape library

To add the AWS Architecture 2019 shape library to your document, follow these steps:

Open a Lucidchart document.
Click More shapes at the bottom of the Shape menu, found on the far-left side of the editor.
Check the box for “AWS Architecture 2019”.
Click Use selected shapes.

Add cost to AWS 2019 shapes

To add cost to an AWS Architecture 2019 shape, follow these steps:

Drag a shape from the AWS Architecture 2019 shape library onto the canvas.
Open the right panel.
Select the Data tab.
Click Add AWS Cost Data in the “Cost Analysis (BETA)” section.

Alternatively, you can right-click on a shape from the AWS Architecture 2019 shape library and choose Add AWS Cost Data.

Calculate the cost of supported services

Calculating the cost for a particular resource typically involves two steps: (1) selecting the correct SKU and (2) configuring discount, pricing model, and usage details for the resource.

Select the correct SKU

Finding the correct SKU always begins with choosing the correct service in the service dropdown. A list of supported services is provided below. For services that aren’t supported, or to estimate other external or miscellaneous costs, you can select “Custom” in the services dropdown.

Note: Services in this list are written in the order they appear in the AWS Price List API.

Supported Services:

AWSGlue
AWSLambda
AWSQueueService
AWSSecretsManager
AWSTransfer
AmazonApiGateway
AmazonAppStream
AmazonCloudFront
AmazonCognito
AmazonDynamoDB
AmazonEC2
AmazonECS
AmazonEFS
AmazonES
AmazonElastiCache
AmazonFSx
AmazonRDS
AmazonRedshift
AmazonRoute53
AmazonS3
AmazonSNS
AmazonSageMaker
AmazonStates
AmazonTextract
comprehend

Depending on the shape that you have selected, the “Service” dropdown may default to the corresponding value. Additionally, some shapes will automatically include other filters in addition to selecting a SKU by default. A good example of this is the “r5” EC2 shape. When adding cost to this shape, the modal will automatically filter to only show SKUs in the “r5” category.

Use the other filters to narrow down the list of potential SKUs and choose the one that matches your needs.

Note: The SKU you select does not have to represent the shape that is shown on the canvas though it is advisable to use a shape that accurately corresponds to the SKU selected in order to avoid misleading those who will consume the diagram being created. Also, multiple costs can be applied to one shape.

Configure details to calculate a price

Once a SKU is selected in the left side of the Calculate AWS Cost modal, you can configure the discount and usage details for that resource in the right side of the modal. The pricing model and usage options available reflect the options provided by the AWS Price List API for that particular service or SKU.

The total monthly cost for the SKU and details that you have configured is estimated in the top right corner of the modal.

Select Apply Cost in the bottom right corner of the modal when you are finished. This will apply the cost to the selected shape.

To edit the cost applied to any shape, follow these steps:

Choose the shape with the applied cost on the canvas.
Open the right-hand panel.
Select the Data tab.
Find the cost card that you wish to edit in the right panel under “Cost Analysis (BETA)”.
Hover over the three-dot menu for the desired cost card.
Click Edit.

Note: When you apply a cost to a particular shape, that cost will remain static and will not update to the latest cost each day. You can get the latest cost for a resource on an existing diagram by following the steps above to edit the price and then immediately selecting Apply Cost in the pop-up modal.

View the cost of a diagram

To view the cost of an entire diagram, follow these steps:

Click an empty spot on the canvas (to deselect all shapes).
Open the right-hand panel.
Select the Data tab.
The “Cost Analysis (BETA)” section will reflect the costs associated with all of the shapes on that particular page.

Note: If one or more shapes are selected, the right panel will show the costs associated with the selected shapes.

Conditional formatting rules

When a cost is applied to any shape, a conditional formatting rule will automatically be created for you to show a “$” badge on any AWS 2019 shape with a cost of more than $0/month.

You can customize this rule or create other rules that better fit your use case. To access the monthly cost value applied to any shape, use the key “AWSAMORTIZEDMONTHLYCOST”. You can also use “AWSUPFRONTCOST” and “AWSMONTHLYCOST” values if you want to distinguish upfront costs from recurring monthly costs, respectively.

Export a bill of materials

To export a CSV of all of the costs associated with a particular page, follow these steps:

Click on an empty spot on the canvas (to deselect all shapes).
Open the right-hand panel.
Select the Data tab.
From the “Cost Analysis (BETA)” section, select Export as CSV.

Give feedback on this article

Have feedback about this article? Tell us about your experience here.

Related articles