Systems and methods are provided for assigning resources in a cloud computing environment via a spot pricing process. The spot pricing process allows virtual machines to be assigned on a preemptible basis to pools based on bids associated with the pools. The bids can be used to determine a price for assignment of preemptible virtual machines. Preemptible virtual machines can then be assigned to pools based at least in part on the submitted bids in relation to the determined price.
