GCP (GKE) vs Leafcloud: Kubernetes Cost Comparison (2026)
GCP (GKE) is 6% cheaper than Leafcloud for a 3-node Kubernetes cluster (€166 vs €177/mo)
The 3-node cost gap is 6% (€11/mo) in GCP (GKE)'s favour. At 6 nodes, Leafcloud actually becomes cheaper — worth considering if you plan to scale to HA. For regulated workloads, Leafcloud is EU-headquartered (not subject to the CLOUD Act as a US-owned entity); GCP (GKE) is US-owned and subject to US data access laws. Block storage costs ~1.5× less on Leafcloud. Choose GCP (GKE) for cost-efficient Kubernetes on a budget; choose Leafcloud for full AWS ecosystem and global reach.
 GCP (GKE) |  Leafcloud | |
|---|---|---|
| HQ / Country | United States | Netherlands |
| Managed Kubernetes | Yes | Yes |
| Control Plane Cost | €73/mo | €84.5/mo |
| Cheapest Node | €34.37/mo 2 vCPU, 2 GB RAM | €30.68/mo 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM |
| 3-Node Cluster* | ~€165.95/mo | ~€176.54/mo |
| 6-Node HA Cluster* | ~€269.06/mo | ~€268.58/mo |
| Egress | €0.103/GB | 0.1 TB free |
| S3 Storage | €0.017/GB | €0.024/GB |
| Certifications | ISO27001, SOC2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS | ISO27001, SOC2 |
| CLOUD Act Exposure | Yes (US-owned) | 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: GCP (GKE) as of May 2026, Leafcloud as of May 2026.
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