A continuously running YouTube stream uses about 10.8 GB of outgoing data per day for every 1 Mbps of steady bitrate, or about 324 GB over 30 days per Mbps. At YouTube’s recommended H.264 setting of 10 Mbps for 1080p/30 fps, that works out to an estimated 108 GB per day and 3,240 GB (3.24 TB) over 30 days. Google Cloud lists VM-to-YouTube network transfer as “No charge,” including for VMs with either an external or internal IP; that does not make the VM or other cloud services free.
How much data does a 24/7 YouTube stream use?
It depends mainly on the stream’s bitrate and how long it runs. For a steady bitrate, estimate outgoing data in decimal gigabytes (GB) with this formula:
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GB per hour ≈ bitrate in Mbps × 0.45
Multiply the hourly result by 24 for a day or by 720 for a 30-day month. The figures below are arithmetic estimates, not measured usage. They use decimal GB, where 1 GB is 1,000,000,000 bytes.
| Steady bitrate | Approx. per hour | Approx. per 24 hours | Approx. per 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Mbps | 1.8 GB | 43.2 GB | 1,296 GB |
| 6 Mbps | 2.7 GB | 64.8 GB | 1,944 GB |
| 8 Mbps | 3.6 GB | 86.4 GB | 2,592 GB |
| 10 Mbps | 4.5 GB | 108 GB | 3,240 GB |
| 12 Mbps | 5.4 GB | 129.6 GB | 3,888 GB |
For example, YouTube’s published H.264 recommendations include 10 Mbps for 1080p/30 fps and 12 Mbps for 1080p/60 fps. Using those rates for a steady 24/7 stream gives the corresponding estimates in the table. YouTube recommends constant bitrate encoding, but real transferred bytes can vary with bitrate changes, protocol overhead, interruptions, and restarts; the cited guidance does not give a universal overhead allowance. YouTube’s live encoder settings guidance also notes that YouTube detects the encoder settings and transcodes a live stream into output formats for different viewers.
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Why resolution alone does not determine data use
A resolution such as 1080p describes the picture dimensions, not the number of bits sent each second. Data use depends on the selected bitrate and runtime; codec, frame rate, and the content being encoded affect which bitrate is appropriate. YouTube’s H.264 recommendations include 4 Mbps for 720p/30 fps, 6 Mbps for 720p/60 fps, 10 Mbps for 1080p/30 fps, and 12 Mbps for 1080p/60 fps. Treat these as codec- and frame-rate-specific recommendations, not universal values for every encoder or codec. Check YouTube’s current encoder recommendations before choosing your stream settings.
Does Google Cloud charge egress to YouTube?
For a stream sent from a Compute Engine VM to YouTube, Google Cloud’s network pricing page lists transfers to specific Google products, including YouTube, as “No charge.” The rule applies whether the VM has an external or internal IP address. It is specific to that VM-to-YouTube transfer category; it is not a blanket statement that all outgoing traffic or all parts of a streaming setup are free. Google Cloud’s network pricing page separately lists general internet transfer rates, but those should not be substituted for the specifically listed YouTube transfer without a reason the traffic falls outside that category.
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What can still cost money on a Google Cloud streaming setup?
“No charge” for the stated network transfer answers only the egress-to-YouTube question. A continuously running VM can incur compute and disk charges based on its configuration and runtime. Recording or storing video, sending data to other destinations, or using other Google Cloud products can add separate costs. The total depends on the architecture, so the transfer rule alone cannot establish an all-in monthly bill.
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The Live Stream API has resource-based charges separate from VM-to-YouTube network transfer. Google says active channel time is billed and that the API has no free usage tier; actual charges depend on inputs, output resolutions, distribution streams, and other enabled features. Review the Live Stream API pricing for the resources and configuration you plan to use.
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Do not mix the API’s encoding recommendations with YouTube’s encoder recommendations. For example, Google Cloud’s Live Stream API guidance recommends 6 Mbps for 1080p25/30 H.264 input and 9 Mbps for 1080p50/60 input; its output ladder uses different rates. Those values describe that API’s profiles, not a universal YouTube encoder setting. See the Live Stream API encoding guidance if that is the service you are configuring.
Estimating your own stream
- Find the configured video bitrate. Use the video bitrate in Mbps from your encoder or streaming setup, and note the codec, resolution, and frame rate so you can check whether the bitrate is suitable.
- Calculate hourly data. Multiply the bitrate by 0.45 to estimate decimal GB per hour. At 8 Mbps, for instance, 8 × 0.45 = 3.6 GB per hour.
- Scale to your runtime. Multiply the hourly estimate by your streaming hours. For uninterrupted operation, use 24 hours per day and 720 hours for a 30-day month.
- Keep the estimate separate from the bill. Use Google Cloud’s pricing for the VM, disk, and any other services separately from the listed VM-to-YouTube network-transfer category.
The calculation is bitrate × 1,000,000 bits per second × seconds ÷ 8 bits per byte, then divided by 1,000,000,000 for decimal GB. If you prefer binary units, 1 GiB is 1,073,741,824 bytes, so a value in decimal GB is numerically larger than the corresponding value in GiB.
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