PostGIS/PostgreSQL vs. MySql vs. SQL Server

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3743632/gis-postgis-postgresql-vs-mysql-vs-sql-server

What database is best for the underlying data store for all this data? Here’s my desires:

I’m familiar with the DBMS. I’m weakest with PostgreSQL, but I am

willing to learn if everything else checks out.

It does well with GIS

queries. Google searches suggest that PostgreSQL + PostGIS may be the

strongest? At least a lot of products seem to use it. MySql’s Spatial

Extensions seem comparatively minimal? Low cost. Despite the 10GB DB

limit in SQL Server Express 2008 R2, I’m not sure I want to live with

this and other limitations of the free version. Not antagonistic with

Microsoft .NET Framework. Thanks to Connector/Net 6.3.4, MySql works

well C# and .NET Framework 4 programs. It fully supports .NET 4’s

Entity Framework. I cannot find any noncommercial PostgreSQL

equivalent, although I’m not opposed to paying $180 for Devart’s

dotConnect for PostgreSQL Professional Edition. Compatible with R. It

appears all 3 of these can talk with R using ODBC, so may not be an

issue.

I’ve already done some development using MySql, but I can change if necessary

If you are interested in a thorough comparison, I recommend “Cross Compare SQL Server 2008 Spatial, PostgreSQL/PostGIS 1.3-1.4, MySQL 5-6” and/or “Compare SQL Server 2008 R2, Oracle 11G R2, PostgreSQL/PostGIS 1.5 Spatial Features” by Boston GIS.

Considering your points:

I’m familiar with the DBMS: setting up a PostGIS database on Windows is easy, using PgAdmin3 management is straight-forward too

It does well with GIS queries: PostGIS is definitely strongest of the three, only Oracle Spatial would be comparable but is disqualified if you consider it’s costs

Low cost: +1 for PostGIS for sure

Not antagonistic with Microsoft .NET Framework: You should at least be able to connect via ODBC (see Postgres wiki)

Compatible with R: shouldn’t be a problem with any of the three