GCP (GKE) vs metalstack.cloud: Kubernetes Cost Comparison (2026)
GCP (GKE) is 91% cheaper than metalstack.cloud for a 3-node Kubernetes cluster (€166 vs €1836/mo)
At the cluster level, GCP (GKE) runs 91% cheaper, roughly €1670/mo less than its competitor. Egress is cheaper with metalstack.cloud: unlimited egress vs paid. For regulated workloads, metalstack.cloud 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. Choose GCP (GKE) for cost-efficient Kubernetes on a budget; choose metalstack.cloud for lower egress costs at scale.
 GCP (GKE) |  metalstack.cloud | |
|---|---|---|
| HQ / Country | United States | Germany |
| Managed Kubernetes | Yes | Yes |
| Control Plane Cost | €73/mo | €216/mo |
| Cheapest Node | €34.37/mo 2 vCPU, 2 GB RAM | €540.00/mo 16 vCPU, 32 GB RAM |
| 3-Node Cluster* | ~€165.95/mo | ~€1836.00/mo |
| 6-Node HA Cluster* | ~€269.06/mo | ~€3456.00/mo |
| Egress | €0.103/GB | Unlimited |
| S3 Storage | €0.017/GB | €0.976/GB |
| Certifications | ISO27001, SOC2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS | ISO27001 |
| 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, metalstack.cloud as of Jun 2026.
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