GPU Cloud vs Buy Calculator (rent per GPU-hour or own the server)

How it works

Cloud = GPUs × price per GPU-hour × hours used. Owning = straight-line depreciation (price × (1 − resale %) ÷ months of life) + electricity (GPUs × kW × hours × price per kWh) + other running costs. Break-even hours = (depreciation + other costs) ÷ (GPUs × (cloud price − power cost per GPU-hour)): above that usage, owning is cheaper. Utilisation compares this with 730 hours in an average month. Electricity is counted only for the hours used; financing costs, spare parts and the risk of the hardware becoming outdated are not included.

⚠ Estimates for information only — not financial advice.

FAQ

What utilisation makes buying worth it?

It depends on the prices, but owned GPUs only win when they are busy most of the month. If your workload is bursty or uncertain, renting avoids paying for idle hardware.

Why include a useful life?

GPUs lose value quickly as new generations arrive. A shorter life means higher monthly depreciation and a higher break-even usage.

Checked 10 Nov 2026. Straight-line depreciation (IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment) and energy = power × time; the cloud price and hardware price are the quotes you enter.