The calculator estimates the cost difference between running MySQL using managed DBaaS services and running MySQL on Kubernetes with open source infrastructure. You enter variables such as vCPU count, storage, memory, high availability, and number of clusters. The tool then estimates monthly, annual, and long-term infrastructure costs so you can compare potential savings and understand the financial impact of moving to Kubernetes.

The calculator estimates infrastructure costs based on key resource inputs, including CPU, memory, storage, backups, and optional high availability. These resources are multiplied by provider pricing to estimate monthly operating costs. By comparing DBaaS pricing with Kubernetes-based deployments, the tool highlights where infrastructure efficiency and removal of DBaaS markups can significantly reduce overall spending.

Savings vary depending on workload size, cloud provider pricing, and architecture. However, many organizations reduce costs by eliminating DBaaS markups and optimizing infrastructure utilization. Studies and example comparisons show infrastructure costs can decrease significantly when workloads are moved from managed database services to Kubernetes-based deployments with automated management tools.

Kubernetes improves efficiency by automating provisioning, scaling, and resource allocation for database workloads. This reduces over-provisioning and idle capacity while allowing teams to run databases on standard compute infrastructure instead of paying DBaaS premiums. Organizations also gain flexibility to deploy across cloud or on-prem environments, avoiding vendor lock-in and optimizing infrastructure costs over time.