How to Use Azure Pricing Calculator for Cost Estimation

To use the Azure Pricing Calculator, visit the official website, select the Azure services you want to estimate, and configure their options like region, size, and usage. The calculator will then show you the estimated monthly cost based on your inputs.

Syntax

The Azure Pricing Calculator is a web tool with a simple interface. You start by adding services to your estimate, then customize each service's settings such as region, instance type, and usage hours. The calculator updates the cost estimate automatically.

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1. Open https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/calculator/
2. Click 'Add products' to select services
3. Choose a service (e.g., Virtual Machines)
4. Configure options (region, OS, size, hours)
5. View the cost estimate on the right panel
6. Add more services as needed
7. Export or share your estimate

Example

This example shows how to estimate the cost of a Virtual Machine running Windows in the East US region for 730 hours (one month).

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1. Go to https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/calculator/
2. Click 'Add products' and select 'Virtual Machines'
3. Set Region to 'East US'
4. Choose OS as 'Windows'
5. Select VM size (e.g., D2s v3)
6. Set Usage to 730 hours
7. Review the estimated monthly cost on the right
8. Optionally add storage or networking services

Output

Estimated monthly cost: $150.72 (example value, varies by options)

Common Pitfalls

• Not selecting the correct region can lead to inaccurate pricing.
• Forgetting to adjust usage hours results in wrong cost estimates.
• Ignoring additional costs like storage, bandwidth, or support plans.
• Not saving or exporting the estimate before closing the browser.

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Wrong way:
- Using default usage hours (0) leads to $0 cost.
Right way:
- Set usage hours to expected monthly usage (e.g., 730 hours).

Quick Reference

Tips for using Azure Pricing Calculator effectively:

• Always select the correct region for your deployment.
• Adjust usage hours to match your expected consumption.
• Add all related services (compute, storage, networking) for full cost visibility.
• Use the export feature to save or share your estimate.
• Check for discounts like reserved instances or Azure Hybrid Benefit if applicable.

Key Takeaways

Use the Azure Pricing Calculator website to select and configure services for cost estimation.

Always set the correct region and usage hours to get accurate pricing.

Include all related services like storage and networking for a complete estimate.

Export your estimate to save or share it easily.

Check for discounts and offers to reduce your estimated costs.