Clear, compact guidance for the production SQL Server estate
Production profile: 24 databases, about 35.0 GB total (data plus logs), low writes and moderate reads. Consolidation is still the most economical path. License status and SQL Agent usage are the biggest decision drivers.
Decision snapshot
Managed SQL Server
No code change
- Low risk and fastest timeline.
- Built in backups and patching.
- Elastic pools fit 24 DBs well.
- License included pricing is higher.
- Express or Web limits may apply.
SQL Server on VM (BYOL)
Lower infra, higher ops
- Lowest monthly cost with licenses.
- Full SQL feature control.
- Manual patching and backups.
- License mobility required.
PostgreSQL or MySQL
Lowest long term spend
- 60 to 80 percent lower cost.
- Fully managed everywhere.
- 6 to 12 week migration effort.
- Stored procedure rewrites.
Monthly cost bands
Cost ranges (both license paths)
| Option | License included (monthly / yearly) | BYOL / Hybrid Benefit (monthly / yearly) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS RDS SQL Server Express | $49 to $74 / $588 to $888 | Not applicable | 10 GB per DB limit, no SQL Agent |
| GCP Cloud SQL SQL Server Express | $53 to $105 / $636 to $1,260 | Not applicable | No BYOL on Cloud SQL |
| Azure SQL Elastic Pool (2 vCore) | $246 to $370 / $2,952 to $4,440 | $75 to $222 / $900 to $2,664 | Best pool model for 24 DBs |
| Azure SQL Managed Instance (4 vCore) | $900 to $1,400 / $10,800 to $16,800 | $450 to $800 / $5,400 to $9,600 | Closest to on prem SQL Server |
| SQL Server on VM (AWS or Azure) | $700 to $1,200 / $8,400 to $14,400 | $55 to $110 / $660 to $1,320 | Ops heavy, license mobility required |
| PostgreSQL or MySQL (managed) | $22 to $62 / $264 to $744 | Not applicable | Requires migration, lowest cost |
| Sevalla managed PostgreSQL | $65 to $145 / $780 to $1,740 | Not applicable | Good if apps already on Sevalla |
Fit check: SQL Server vs open source
- SQL Agent jobs are required.
- Teams want zero code change.
- Existing tooling depends on SQL Server features.
- Cost reduction is a top priority.
- Stored procedure use is light.
- Applications can change drivers.
Dev environment strategy
Local Docker for dev
- Removes dev cloud cost.
- Fast iteration with local control.
- Keeps prod cleanly separated.
Add a small instance cost on top of production. Use the lowest tier that satisfies SQL Agent needs.
| Dev option | Monthly / yearly |
|---|---|
| SQL Server Express (AWS or GCP) | $49 to $105 / $588 to $1,260 |
| SQL Server on VM (BYOL) | $55 to $110 / $660 to $1,320 |
| PostgreSQL or MySQL (managed) | $22 to $62 / $264 to $744 |
| Sevalla managed PostgreSQL | $65 to $145 / $780 to $1,740 |
Prod vs dev roll-up
Use the cost table above for production totals. This reflects the 24 production databases.
- Lower spend and simpler operations.
- Only one environment to secure and monitor.
Add the dev range from the dev table on top of the production range.
| Dev add-on | Monthly / yearly |
|---|---|
| SQL Server Express (AWS or GCP) | $49 to $105 / $588 to $1,260 |
| SQL Server on VM (BYOL) | $55 to $110 / $660 to $1,320 |
| PostgreSQL or MySQL (managed) | $22 to $62 / $264 to $744 |
| Sevalla managed PostgreSQL | $65 to $145 / $780 to $1,740 |
Next checks
Verify licensing
- Confirm Software Assurance status.
- Check license mobility for VM paths.
Confirm Enterprise needs
- List SQL Agent jobs in use.
- Check for Enterprise only features.