Google Cloud offers a variety of virtual machine (VM) instances with different pricing options. The pricing for VM instances depends on factors such as the machine type, the region where the instance is deployed, the duration of usage, and any additional features or services utilized. Here are some key points to understand the pricing of Google Cloud VMs:

1. Machine Types: Google Cloud offers a range of machine types optimized for different workloads, such as general-purpose, memory-optimized, compute-optimized, and GPU-accelerated instances. Each machine type has a different pricing structure based on its specifications and performance capabilities.

2. Preemptible VMs: Preemptible VMs are temporary instances that offer lower pricing but can be interrupted with short notice (usually after 24 hours). They are ideal for fault-tolerant workloads and can provide significant cost savings compared to regular VMs.

3. Sustained Use Discounts: Google Cloud offers sustained use discounts, which automatically apply to instances running for a significant portion of the month. The longer an instance is running, the higher the discount rate, which can result in reduced costs for sustained workloads.

4. Custom Machine Types: Google Cloud allows you to create custom machine types by selecting the desired number of vCPUs (virtual CPUs) and memory, enabling you to optimize the instance size based on your specific needs. Custom machine types have their own pricing structure.

5. Storage Costs: In addition to the VM instance pricing, storage costs should also be considered. Google Cloud provides various storage options, such as persistent disks, local SSDs, and object storage (Cloud Storage), each with its own pricing model based on capacity and usage.

6. Network Egress Costs: Outbound network traffic from VM instances to the internet or other Google Cloud services may incur egress costs. The pricing varies depending on the amount of data transferred and the destination region.

To get detailed and up-to-date pricing information for Google Cloud VM instances, it is recommended to visit the Google Cloud Pricing Calculator or the pricing page on the Google Cloud website. These resources allow you to configure specific VM instance parameters and estimate the associated costs based on your requirements.