IONOS vs Contabo: Kubernetes Cost Comparison (2026)
Contabo is 66% cheaper than IONOS for a 3-node Kubernetes cluster (€33 vs €96/mo)
The 3-node cost gap is 66% (€63/mo) in Contabo's favour. On block storage, Contabo is the cheaper option at roughly 1/15 the price per GB. On storage throughput, IONOS leads by ~8×, a meaningful gap for stateful Kubernetes workloads. Choose Contabo for cost-efficient Kubernetes on a budget; choose IONOS for IONOS's specific capabilities.
Cheapest server with 2 vCPU / 4 GB
- IONOS: vCPU 2C-4G (2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM) for €32.12/mo
- Contabo: Cloud VPS 4 (4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM, 100 GB disk) for €5.50/mo
Monthly list prices excl. VAT. More sizes in the instance finder.
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 IONOS | Contabo | |
|---|---|---|
| HQ / Country | Germany | Germany |
| Managed Kubernetes | Yes | No (DIY) |
| Control Plane Cost | Free | Self-managed |
| Cheapest Node | €32.12/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM | €5.50/mo 4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM |
| 3-Node Cluster* | ~€96.36/mo | ~€33.00/mo |
| 6-Node HA Cluster* | ~€192.72/mo | ~€49.50/mo |
| Egress | €0.050/GB | 32 TB free |
| S3 Storage | €0.015/GB | €0.010/GB |
| Certifications | ISO27001 | None listed |
| CLOUD Act Exposure | No | No |
* Estimated using cheapest available node. DIY providers include 3 additional control plane nodes. Use the calculator for exact pricing with your specs.
Data freshness: IONOS as of May 2026, Contabo as of Sept 2026.
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