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Azure Cloud Migration Cost Calculator — True Cost of Migrating to Azure (2026)

Azure migration costs range from $40K for small Windows shops to $8M+ for enterprise. If you're already in the Microsoft ecosystem, Azure is usually the cheapest switch — here's why, and here's what it will cost.

Cloud Migration Cost Estimator

Independent · No lead forms · Updated 2026

1500
1 TB500 TB
2 months36 months

Total Project Cost Estimate

$1.7Mtypical
Range: $931K–$2.7M
Low: $931KHigh: $2.7M

Monthly Cloud Cost

$60K

post-migration

Break-Even

86 mo

from go-live

Monthly Savings

+$20K

vs on-premise

Data Egress Cost

$2K

one-time transfer

Cost Breakdown

Migration Labour$1.4M
Parallel Running$1.4M
Egress / Data Transfer$2K
Tooling & Assessment$20K
Contingency (20%)$284K

Estimates based on 2026 market rates. Actual costs vary by workload complexity, geographic region, and negotiated contract terms. Add 20–40% contingency for hidden costs.

Top Cost Drivers for This Scenario

1. Migration labour ($1.4M) · 2. Parallel running ($1.4M) · 3. Egress costs ($2K)

Microsoft Ecosystem Advantage — The Azure Hybrid Benefit

If you're already on Microsoft 365, SQL Server, or Windows Server with Software Assurance, Azure is typically the cheapest cloud to migrate to.

Azure Hybrid Benefit: How much it saves

WorkloadWithout AHBWith AHBAnnual Saving
100 × Windows Server VMs (D4s v3)$384K/yr$230K/yr-$154K/yr
SQL Server Enterprise (2 cores)$78K/yr$35K/yr-$43K/yr
50 × Windows VMs (D2s v3)$96K/yr$58K/yr-$38K/yr

* Assumes Windows Server Standard SA licences owned. Prices approximate based on East US region, 2026 pricing.

Who qualifies?

Windows Server licences with Software Assurance
SQL Server licences with Software Assurance
Azure Dev/Test subscriptions
Active Azure subscription required

FastTrack for Azure

Free migration support from Microsoft engineers for customers spending $25K+/month on Azure. Covers architecture review, best practices, and migration guidance.

Azure Cost Components

Azure-specific costs

Azure Migrate

Free

Azure Migrate discovers, assesses, and migrates on-premises VMs. No per-server charges for the migration tool itself.

Egress to Azure

First 100GB free, then $0.087/GB

Slightly cheaper than AWS for large volumes. 50TB migration: ~$4,447. Use Azure Data Box for datasets over 10TB to eliminate egress.

Azure Reserved Instances

Save 38–55% vs pay-as-you-go

1-year reserved saves 38%. 3-year reserved saves 55–62%. Commit to reserved instances after the first right-sizing review (30–60 days post-migration).

Azure Expert MSP Partners

$150–$300/hour

Azure Expert MSPs are the highest-tier Azure partners. For 100-server migrations, typical engagement: $120,000–$250,000 in consulting fees.

Azure Enterprise Support

$700/month minimum

Azure Premier Support (equivalent to AWS Enterprise) is custom-priced. Developer support is $29/month; Standard is $100/month; Professional Direct is $1,000/month.

Egress Reference

Azure egress costs by volume

Data VolumeRate / GBTotal Cost
1 TB$0.087$89
5 TB$0.087$446
10 TB$0.087$891
20 TB$0.083$2K
50 TB$0.083$4K
100 TB$0.05$5K
200 TB$0.05$10K

Azure vs AWS egress comparison

Azure egress ($0.087/GB) is slightly cheaper than AWS ($0.09/GB) for volumes up to 150TB. For 50TB, Azure saves approximately $100 vs AWS — not material for large migrations, but Azure Data Box (physical transfer) eliminates egress for datasets over 40TB.

See full egress cost comparison at egresscost.com

Azure FAQ

Azure migration questions answered

Is Azure migration cheaper if we already use Microsoft?+
Yes — significantly. Azure Hybrid Benefit lets you use existing Windows Server and SQL Server licences on Azure, saving up to 40% on compute costs. A 100-VM Windows estate saves approximately $100,000–$150,000 per year vs the equivalent AWS EC2 deployment without BYOL discounts.
What is Azure Hybrid Benefit and how much does it save?+
Azure Hybrid Benefit (AHB) lets you apply your existing Windows Server and SQL Server Software Assurance licences to Azure VMs, saving 40% on Windows Server VMs and up to 55% on SQL Server. Example: 100 Windows Server Standard VMs without AHB cost approximately $380,000/year on Azure. With AHB (if you own the licences): approximately $230,000/year — saving $150,000 annually.
What is Microsoft FastTrack for Azure?+
FastTrack for Azure is a Microsoft program that provides free migration support from Microsoft engineers for qualifying customers. It's available to customers spending $25,000+ on Azure. FastTrack does not cover all migration costs — it provides architectural guidance and best practice support, not hands-on migration labour.
How much does Azure migration cost for 50 servers?+
Azure migration for 50 servers typically costs $120,000–$400,000 all-in, depending on strategy and whether you qualify for Azure Hybrid Benefit. Lift-and-shift runs $120K–$220K. Mixed strategy runs $200K–$400K. If you're a Windows shop, Azure Hybrid Benefit can reduce ongoing costs by 40%, improving break-even significantly.
Azure vs AWS migration — which is cheaper for a Windows shop?+
For organisations with existing Windows Server and SQL Server licences and Software Assurance, Azure is typically 20–40% cheaper than AWS for ongoing compute costs. The Azure Hybrid Benefit alone saves $100,000–$150,000/year for a 100-server Windows estate. AWS has equivalent BYOL discounts but the savings are generally smaller for Windows workloads.
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MigrationCost.com is not affiliated with Microsoft Azure. All estimates are for budgeting guidance only. Azure pricing is subject to change — verify current rates at azure.microsoft.com/pricing.