What does a cloud migration cost?
Updated: 2026-09
A cloud migration creates two separate kinds of cost: the one-off move and the running operating cost afterwards. The second is regularly underestimated and decides whether the migration pays off. Clear range after an assessment.
Two very different kinds of cost are readily conflated in a cloud migration. The one-off cost of the move can be estimated well. The running cost afterwards can only be estimated if the usage patterns are known — and that is exactly where the surprises arise.
The most common case is a migration that succeeds technically and disappoints commercially, because an application was lifted into the cloud unchanged and permanently costs more there than before. Assessing beforehand is therefore not an optional step.
What drives the cost
Condition of the applications
A modern, containerised application moves easily. A grown one with dependencies on its environment does not.
Migration strategy
Lifting unchanged is fast and often expensive to operate. Adapting costs more and lowers running cost.
Data volume and downtime
Large data sets and a requirement to move without interruption raise the effort considerably.
Data location and compliance
Requirements for EU or Swiss data residency narrow the choice and affect both effort and running cost.
Running operating costs
Compute, storage and above all data transfer — the last is the item most often forgotten in advance calculations.
How we price
- 01
Fixed price
Where the scope can be clearly bounded, we work to a binding fixed price. You know exactly what it costs before the project starts — no open-ended hourly billing, no surprises.
- 02
Time and materials against an estimate
Where the scope is not yet fully settled at the start, we work transparently against effort — with an estimate discussed in advance and regular cost control, so nothing runs away.
- 03
Engagement / retainer
For ongoing support — advisory, governance or continuous optimisation — we agree an engagement with a defined scope per month. Predictable cost, flexibly adjustable.
We deliberately publish no online prices: every case differs. After a short first conversation you receive a binding fixed price or clear frame.
Parent service: Digital Transformation
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FAQ
Why is there no specific price on the website?
Because a serious price depends on the actual scope, and a number online would almost always be wrong — too high deters, too low leads to unpleasant surprises. After a short first conversation we give you a binding fixed price or a clear range.
How do I get to a binding fixed price?
Through a short, free first conversation in which we clarify scope, goals and constraints. On that basis you receive a specific, binding price — with no hidden costs.
Does the cloud work out cheaper?
Not automatically. With stable, well-utilised load, running your own can stay cheaper. The cloud wins on fluctuating demand and by removing hardware and operations.
Which item is overlooked most often?
Data transfer. Compute and storage are usually included, the cost of outbound traffic almost never — on data-intensive applications it is substantial.