UpCloud vs GCP (GKE): Kubernetes Cost Comparison (2026)
UpCloud is 86% cheaper than GCP (GKE) for a 3-node Kubernetes cluster (€24 vs €166/mo)
The 3-node cost gap is 86% (€142/mo) in UpCloud's favour. On storage throughput, GCP (GKE) leads by ~4×, a meaningful gap for stateful Kubernetes workloads. Egress is cheaper with UpCloud: unlimited egress vs paid. Choose UpCloud for cost-efficient Kubernetes on a budget; choose GCP (GKE) for IOPS-intensive stateful applications.
Moving off GCP (GKE) could save ~€142/mo on a 3-node cluster.
Get matched with a vetted EU migration agency →
 UpCloud |  GCP (GKE) | |
|---|---|---|
| HQ / Country | Finland | United States |
| Managed Kubernetes | Yes | Yes |
| Control Plane Cost | Free | €73/mo |
| Cheapest Node | €8.00/mo 2 vCPU, 2 GB RAM | €34.37/mo 2 vCPU, 2 GB RAM |
| 3-Node Cluster* | ~€24.00/mo | ~€165.95/mo |
| 6-Node HA Cluster* | ~€48.00/mo | ~€269.06/mo |
| Egress | Unlimited | €0.103/GB |
| S3 Storage | €0.020/GB | €0.017/GB |
| Certifications | ISO27001 | ISO27001, SOC2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS |
| CLOUD Act Exposure | No | 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: UpCloud as of Jun 2026, GCP (GKE) as of May 2026.
Calculate Your Exact Cost
Configure your exact cluster specs and see real-time pricing across 33+ European providers.
Open Calculator