Microsoft Azure offers a wide range of cloud services, and while the flexibility is great, understanding the cost can be a challenge—especially if you're new to cloud computing. That’s where the Azure Pricing Calculator comes in.
The Azure Pricing Calculator helps you estimate the cost of running workloads on Azure, based on the services, configurations, and regions you select. In this easy-to-follow guide, we’ll show you how to use the Azure Pricing Calculator step by step.
✅ What is the Azure Pricing Calculator?
The Azure Pricing Calculator is a free tool by Microsoft that allows you to:
Estimate monthly costs of Azure services
Compare pricing across regions
Plan your cloud budget before deployment
Customize resources based on your actual needs
You can access it here: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/calculator/
????️ Step-by-Step: How to Use the Azure Pricing Calculator
Step 1: Open the Calculator
Go to the official calculator page and explore the list of services offered, like Virtual Machines, Storage, Databases, Networking, AI, and more.
Step 2: Select a Service
Click on a category (e.g., “Compute”) and select a service you want to estimate, like Virtual Machines. This will add the item to your pricing list at the bottom of the screen.
Step 3: Configure the Service
Once added, you’ll see several configuration options such as:
Region – Choose where your resources will be hosted
Operating System – Windows or Linux
Instance Type – Size of the virtual machine (e.g., B1s, D2s v3)
Hours per Month – Default is 730 (24/7)
Licensing Options – Whether you already have licenses through Microsoft programs
As you update configurations, the pricing will adjust in real time.
Step 4: Add More Services
You can keep adding other Azure services such as:
Azure SQL Database
Azure Blob Storage
Azure App Service
Azure Kubernetes Service
This gives you a full picture of the monthly cost for a complete solution.
Step 5: Export or Share the Estimate
You can:
Save your estimate for future reference
Download it as an Excel file
Share a direct link with your team or client
???? Tips for Using the Calculator Effectively
Compare regions: Prices can vary depending on the data center region.
Check reserved instances: Committing to 1 or 3-year plans can reduce costs significantly.
Use the total cost summary to understand overall billing.
???? Real-World Application
If you’re learning Azure or planning to pursue a cloud role, understanding how costs work is crucial. For example, if you’re training to become a data engineer, you’ll often estimate resources like storage, compute power, and data pipelines.
If you're serious about mastering these skills, check out the hands-on Azure Data Engineer Training in Hyderabad. It’s designed to help you work with real Azure services—including cost management—and prepare for top cloud jobs.
✅ Conclusion
The Azure Pricing Calculator is your go-to tool for planning cloud projects and managing budgets. It’s user-friendly, flexible, and gives you full control over your cloud cost estimates.
Whether you’re a beginner testing services for free or a professional architecting enterprise solutions, using the calculator will help you stay informed and in control.