MSDEVBUILD / azure

Pricing Calculator

Cloud server ONOFF METER 💰 paying for use ⏸ switched off: no compute bill Pay-as-you-gono commitmentReservedup to 72% offSavings planup to 65% offSpotup to 90% off*
Fill the basket, change sizes and regions, see the total before you spend anything.

😟 THE PROBLEM

The manager wants a monthly cost before approving the project.

😊 THE SOLUTION

Build an estimate in the Azure pricing calculator.

  • Guessing the cost✓ Estimate each service
  • Unsure which option is cheaper✓ Compare regions and pricing models
  • Need to share numbers✓ Save and export the estimate
🛠️ Solved with: Azure pricing calculator
Try it yourself in the Azure simulator No Azure account needed. Launch a VM and save money 🖥️ Try it ❯
Module 3: Management & Governance ⏱ 5 min read Updated 11 Nov 2026

Quick answer

The Azure pricing calculator is a free web tool that estimates the cost of provisioning Azure resources before you deploy them. You add services such as VMs, storage and databases, choose options like region, size, tier and hours, and it shows an estimated monthly cost you can save, share and export. It does not create any resources.

Exam objective: 3.1.2 Explore the pricing calculator. (Skills measured as of July 20, 2026)

Start with a question

Your manager asks, “How much will this cost per month?” before you build anything. What do you say?

You open the pricing calculator, add the services, and give a confident estimate.

Explain it like I’m 10

The technical explanation

  1. 1 Add products

    Virtual machines, storage, App Service, databases…

  2. 2 Configure

    Region, size, tier, redundancy, hours, pricing model.

  3. 3 Review estimate

    Monthly and upfront costs per item and in total.

  4. 4 Save or export

    Share with your manager or attach to a proposal.

Using the pricing calculator

Real-world business scenario

Education

A school district

The problem
The board needed a cost estimate before approving a cloud learning platform.
What they used
Built an estimate in the pricing calculator comparing two regions and pay-as-you-go versus a one-year reservation.
Why that choice
Clear, shareable numbers before any spending.
The result
The project was approved with an accurate budget.

When to use it and when not to

✓ Use it when…

  • Before every new project or major change.

✕ Think twice when…

  • Treating an estimate as a guaranteed bill. Real usage varies.
Ready for more?The full lesson adds the technical explanation, when to use it, interview questions and revision notes.

Interview preparation

Say your answer out loud first, then open the model answer. Interviewers care more about your reasoning than the exact words.

Beginner What is the Azure pricing calculator?

Model answer

A free website where I add the Azure services I plan to use, choose sizes and regions, and see an estimated monthly cost before building anything.

Intermediate How is the pricing calculator different from the TCO calculator?

Model answer

The pricing calculator estimates the cost of Azure services you plan to use. The TCO calculator compares the total cost of running workloads on-premises versus in Azure, including things like hardware, power and staff.

Experienced developer How do you make pricing calculator estimates realistic?

Model answer

Use realistic hours (not always 730 for dev/test), include bandwidth, storage transactions, backup and monitoring, compare pay-as-you-go with reservations and savings plans, apply Azure Hybrid Benefit, and check region price differences. Then validate with a small pilot and Cost Management data.

Test yourself with exercises

3 original practice questions in the AZ-900 style. Pick your answers, then check them. You will see why each option is right or wrong. Score 75% or more and this topic is marked complete.

Question 1

Question 1 of 3

Which tool estimates the monthly cost of Azure services before you deploy them?

Question 2

Question 2 of 3

Does the pricing calculator create resources in your subscription?

Question 3

Question 3 of 3 · Select 2

Which TWO options can you choose in the pricing calculator?

Quick revision

Key points

  • Estimates costs before you deploy.
  • Choose services, region, size, tier and usage.
  • Estimates can be saved, shared and exported.
  • It does not create resources.

Important terminology

Pricing calculator
A web tool that estimates the cost of Azure services before deployment.
Estimate
A saved list of services and options with a predicted monthly cost.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing the pricing calculator with the TCO calculator.

Exam tips

  • "Estimate the monthly cost of planned Azure services" = pricing calculator.

Five quick revision questions

  1. 1.What does the pricing calculator do?Show

    Estimates the cost of Azure services before deployment.

  2. 2.Does it create any resources?Show

    No.

  3. 3.Name two options you can choose.Show

    Region and size (also tier, hours, redundancy).

  4. 4.Can you share an estimate?Show

    Yes, estimates can be saved, shared and exported.

  5. 5.Which tool compares on-premises and Azure costs?Show

    The TCO calculator.

Official references

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Next up: Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)