To get detailed cost insights at the node and pod level in Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), you need to enable GKE Cost Allocation along with Workload Identity. This guide shows you how.
📋 Step-by-Step Instructions
- Go to the GKE Clusters page.
- Select the cluster you want to modify.
- Click Edit at the top of the cluster details page.
- Scroll down to the Cost Allocation section.
- Enable both Workload Identity and Cost Allocation.
- Click Save.
- Redeploy workloads as needed to apply the changes.
✅ Expected Outcome
Once enabled, GKE will attribute costs down to the pod level, allowing you to view granular cost data in the Billing Reports and BigQuery exports.
🛠️ Troubleshooting Tips
- Cost data not showing? Ensure your workloads are using Workload Identity.
- Changes not applied? Redeploy your workloads or restart affected pods after enabling cost allocation.
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🕓 Last Updated: April 2025