AWS (EKS) vs Azure (AKS): Kubernetes Cost Comparison (2026)
Azure (AKS) is 28% cheaper than AWS (EKS) for a 3-node Kubernetes cluster (€72 vs €100/mo)
The 3-node cost gap is 28% (€28/mo) in Azure (AKS)'s favour. At 6 nodes, AWS (EKS) actually becomes cheaper — worth considering if you plan to scale to HA. Control plane costs differ: Azure (AKS) includes it free; AWS (EKS) adds €73/mo. Azure (AKS) delivers ~2× the storage IOPS, which matters for write-heavy workloads like etcd or database operators. Choose Azure (AKS) for cost-efficient Kubernetes on a budget; choose AWS (EKS) for AWS (EKS)'s specific capabilities.
IOPS figures from the providers' documentation: AWS (EKS), Azure (AKS).
Cheapest server with 2 vCPU / 4 GB
- AWS (EKS): t4g.medium (2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM) for €24.46/mo
- Azure (AKS): B2pls_v2 (2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM) for €24.07/mo
Monthly list prices excl. VAT. More sizes in the instance finder.
EU cloud providers cost significantly less than US hyperscalers for equivalent Kubernetes clusters.
Get matched with a vetted EU migration agency →
 AWS (EKS) | Azure (AKS) | |
|---|---|---|
| HQ / Country | United States | United States |
| Managed Kubernetes | Yes | Yes |
| Control Plane Cost | €73/mo | Free |
| Cheapest Node | €12.23/mo 2 vCPU, 2 GB RAM | €24.07/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM |
| 3-Node Cluster* | ~€100.39/mo | ~€72.21/mo |
| 6-Node HA Cluster* | ~€137.08/mo | ~€144.42/mo |
| Egress | €0.079/GB | €0.080/GB |
| S3 Storage | €0.020/GB | €0.018/GB |
| Certifications | ISO27001, SOC2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS | ISO27001, SOC2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS |
| CLOUD Act Exposure | Yes (US-owned) | Yes (US-owned) |
* Estimated using cheapest available node. DIY providers include 3 additional control plane nodes. Use the calculator for exact pricing with your specs.
Data freshness: AWS (EKS) as of Sept 2026, Azure (AKS) as of Sept 2026.
Calculate Your Exact Cost
Configure your exact cluster specs and see real-time pricing across 34+ European providers.
Open Calculator