Azure migration cost calculator
Microsoft Azure is usually the cheapest cloud to migrate to if you are already on Windows Server, SQL Server, or Active Directory. Hybrid Benefit can save up to 40% on compute. Here is the full picture.
SRC ──→ Azure
Source · From
Destination · To
Total project cost · low / typical / high
Post-migration monthly
$60K
vs current monthly
$80K
Break-even
86 mo
Indicative timeline · 9 months
Estimate based on published 2026 list pricing for AWS and industry-typical per-workload labour rates. Actual costs depend on committed-use discounts, partner credits (AWS MAP, Azure FastTrack), and your specific workload mix. Validate with your provider before commit.
What drives Azure migration cost
| Cost line | 2026 reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Migration tooling | Free | Azure Migrate, free, agentless server discovery and assessment |
| Egress (during migration) | First 100 GB free, then $0.087 / GB | 50 TB out of source ≈ $4,350 |
| Hybrid Benefit | −40% on compute | Applies existing Windows Server / SQL Server licences to Azure |
| FastTrack for Azure | Free for qualifying EA / enterprise | Offsets partner discovery and architecture work |
| Pro support | 8% of monthly spend | Min ~$10K/month for production workloads |
| Azure Expert MSP | $150–$300 / hr | Top-tier Azure partners, equivalent to AWS Premier |
Why Microsoft shops land on Azure
If you already run Microsoft 365, Active Directory, SQL Server, or Windows Server at scale, Azure is usually the lowest-friction destination. Existing licences port under Hybrid Benefit, AD federation is native, and Microsoft enterprise agreements often include Azure consumption commitments at favourable rates. The transition pattern is closer to a platform extension than a re-architecture.
Hybrid Benefit example
100 Windows Server Standard VMs, mixed compute.
- Equivalent AWS / yr
- $720K
- Azure list / yr
- $680K
- Hybrid Benefit
- −$155K
- Azure net
- $525K
Azure migration questions
Q. How much does Azure migration cost?
Azure migrations range from $40K for small Windows-shop environments to $8M+ for full enterprise. For Microsoft-heavy organisations Azure is usually the cheapest cloud to migrate to because of Azure Hybrid Benefit, which can save up to 40% on Windows Server and SQL Server compute. A 100-server, 20 TB, 12-month migration typically lands $1.4M-$2.8M including consulting and support.
Q. What is Azure Hybrid Benefit and how much does it save?
Azure Hybrid Benefit lets you apply existing on-premise Windows Server and SQL Server licences to Azure compute, removing the OS / DB licence component of Azure VM pricing. It typically saves 30-40% on compute for Windows-licensed VMs. For 100 Windows Server Standard VMs, this can be approximately $150,000 per year vs the equivalent unlicensed AWS or GCP cost.
Q. Is Azure cheaper to migrate to if we already use Microsoft 365?
Usually yes. Existing Microsoft enterprise agreements include Azure-friendly licensing terms. Active Directory federation, Microsoft Entra ID, and SQL Server portability are simpler to Azure than to AWS or GCP. Microsoft FastTrack for Azure also provides free migration support for qualifying customers, which can offset $50K-$150K in partner fees.
Q. What is Microsoft FastTrack for Azure?
FastTrack for Azure is Microsoft's free migration assistance programme for qualifying customers (typically EA / large enterprise). It includes architecture review, hands-on migration help from Microsoft engineers, and partner introductions. It does not replace a full migration partner for complex projects, but reduces the scope (and cost) of partner-led work. Apply via your Microsoft account team before the project is scoped.
Q. Azure vs AWS migration, which is cheaper for a Windows shop?
For a Windows-licensed shop, Azure is almost always cheaper net of Hybrid Benefit. AWS does support BYOL but requires more careful Oracle / SQL Server licence handling. For mid-market Windows estates (50-200 VMs), expect Azure 3-year TCO to be 8-15% lower than AWS once Hybrid Benefit is factored in. For Linux-only or container-first workloads the gap is much smaller.