GPU Cloud Cost Calculator
Enter GPU prices and usage to compare renting with buying.
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GPU Cloud Cost Calculator by TheCalcTools
How the GPU Cloud Cost Calculator works
Cloud GPUs cost the hourly rate times hours used. Reserved or committed-use plans trade flexibility for a discount; spot capacity is cheaper but can be interrupted.
Buying pays off when the saving per hour (rental price minus your own running cost) covers the purchase price within the hardware’s useful life. Low utilisation favours renting.
The formula
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| GPUs | 8 |
|---|---|
| Hours used per day | 12 |
| On-demand price per GPU-hour | $3 |
| Reserved or committed discount | 40 % |
| Spot price per GPU-hour | $1.2 |
| Price to buy an equivalent server | $250000 |
| Running cost if owned (power, hosting) per GPU-hour | $0.4 |
- 8 GPUs × 12 h × 30.44 days = 2,922 GPU-hours a month: $8,766 on demand.
- Buying for $250,000 breaks even in about 32.9 months.
Result:
| On-demand per month | $8,766 |
|---|---|
| Reserved per month | $5,260 |
| Spot per month | $3,506 |
| Months to break even buying (vs on-demand) | 32.9 |
| Utilisation | 50% |
Frequently asked questions
What counts in owned running cost?
Electricity, cooling, data-centre space, networking and staff time, spread per GPU-hour.
Sources and further reading
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This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.