Inputs
Formula used
- Compute = instances × hours × rate × region × usageBuffer
- Storage = GB × rate × region × usageBuffer
- Backups = backupGB × backupRate × region × usageBuffer
- Bandwidth = egressGB × egressRate × region × (buffer on/off)
- Services = (db + loadBalancer + monitoring + other) × region
- Support = support% × infraSubtotal + supportFlat
- Discount = discount% × (scope base)
- AfterDiscounts = max(0, subtotal − discount − credits)
- Tax = tax% × AfterDiscounts
- TotalMonthly = AfterDiscounts + Tax
How to use this calculator
- Enter your expected compute, storage, and egress usage.
- Fill in unit rates from your provider price list.
- Add optional services like databases, monitoring, and support.
- Apply discounts, credits, and tax if applicable.
- Use a usage buffer to protect against demand spikes.
- Press Submit to view totals above the form.
- Export the breakdown using the CSV or PDF buttons.
Example data table
| Scenario | Instances | Hours | Rate/hr | Storage (GB) | Egress (GB) | Services | Discount | Estimated monthly total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Startup app | 2 | 730 | $0.12 | 200 | 500 | $75 | 10% | ~$320 |
| Growing product | 6 | 730 | $0.18 | 800 | 1,800 | $210 | 15% | ~$1,620 |
| Enterprise workload | 20 | 730 | $0.25 | 5,000 | 8,000 | $900 | 25% | ~$8,950 |
Compute cost levers
Compute is usually the largest line item. A single instance running 730 hours at $0.12 per hour costs $87.60 monthly before regional and buffer multipliers. Six instances at $0.18 reach $788.40. If you apply a 10% buffer, that becomes $867.24. For autoscaling pools, estimate average instances, not peak. If average is 3.5, the compute line drops by 42% versus six always-on. Use fewer always-on hours for batch jobs to reduce spend.
Storage and backups
Storage pricing scales with volume, not CPU. At $0.10 per GB-month, 800 GB costs $80.00. Backups at $0.05 per GB-month add $40.00 for 800 GB, or $5.00 for 100 GB. Right-size retention, compress snapshots, and separate hot storage from archive tiers for predictable bills.
Network egress exposure
Outbound traffic can surprise budgets because rates are per GB. With 1,800 GB egress at $0.09 per GB, network charges are $162.00 before multipliers. A 20% traffic spike adds $32.40. If you pay $0.02 per GB via a cached CDN path, the same 1,800 GB is $36.00, saving $126. Track caching hit rates and inter-region transfers to avoid hidden egress.
Managed services overhead
Databases, load balancers, and monitoring convert engineering time into recurring fees. A $45 database plus an $18 balancer and $12 monitoring totals $75 monthly, then scales by regional factor. Include ancillary services for completeness. For production, compare managed costs versus self-hosted labor, patching, and downtime risk.
Controls, discounts, and tax
Support can be a flat fee or a percentage of subtotal. A 6% support rate on $2,000 adds $120. Reserved discounts reduce selected scopes; a 15% compute-only discount on $1,000 saves $150. Combine credits with discounts cautiously, because credits typically expire. Apply credits before tax, then add VAT, such as 16%, to estimate cash outlay. Re-run scenarios quarterly as rates, usage, and regions change.
FAQs
What does the region price factor represent?
It scales all line items to reflect regional pricing differences. Use 1.00 for a baseline region. Higher values approximate premium regions, while lower values model discounted locations or negotiated rates.
Why does the calculator use 730 hours per month?
730 is a common planning average for an always-on month. If workloads stop overnight or run only on weekdays, lower the hours to match expected runtime and reduce estimated compute spend.
How should I estimate egress bandwidth?
Start with current monthly outbound GB from analytics or invoices. Add expected growth and one-time events, such as launches. If you use a CDN, enter the post-cache egress that still leaves your origin.
What is the usage buffer and when should I enable it?
The buffer increases usage to model spikes, overages, and measurement variance. Use 5% to 15% for steady systems, and 20% or more for bursty traffic or uncertain forecasting.
How do discounts and credits interact?
Discounts reduce the selected cost scope by a percentage. Credits subtract a fixed monthly amount after discounts. If credits exceed the subtotal, the tool floors charges at zero before applying tax.
Does this replace provider pricing calculators?
No. This is a planning model that uses the rates you enter. Providers may apply rounding, free tiers, tiered pricing, or special charges. Use this tool for comparisons, then validate with official quotes.