What is the Cost of NVIDIA H100-Based Instances on Azure?

In the ever-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC), the NVIDIA H100 GPU has emerged as a cornerstone for organizations aiming to accelerate their computational workloads. As of February 2025, cloud service providers like Microsoft Azure have integrated H100 GPUs into their offerings, enabling businesses to harness this power without significant upfront hardware investments.​

This article delves into the costs associated with deploying NVIDIA H100-based instances on Azure, providing insights into pricing structures, configurations, and considerations for optimizing expenditures.​

Azure's NVIDIA H100-Based Instances

Microsoft Azure offers the ND H100 v5 series virtual machines (VMs), specifically engineered for intensive deep learning training and large-scale AI workloads. These VMs are equipped with NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs, delivering unparalleled performance for complex computations.

Instance Specifications

ND96isr H100 v5:

vCPUs: 96

Memory: 1,900 GiB​

GPUs: 8 NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs

Interconnect Bandwidth: 3.2 Tbps per VM​

InfiniBand Connection: Each GPU is provided with a dedicated 400 Gb/s NVIDIA Quantum-2 CX7 InfiniBand connection.

Pricing Details

As of February 2025, the pricing for the ND96isr H100 v5 instance is as follows:​

On-Demand Pricing: Approximately $98.32 per hour.​

Spot Pricing: Around $88.49 per hour. 

It's important to note that prices can vary based on the region and specific configurations. Additionally, Azure offers savings plans and reserved instances that can provide cost reductions for long-term commitments.

Comparing with Other Cloud Providers

While Azure provides robust solutions with its ND H100 v5 series, other cloud providers also offer NVIDIA H100 GPU instances. For instance, Cyfuture Cloud has integrated NVIDIA H100 GPUs into their infrastructure, aiming to deliver high-performance computing solutions. Specific pricing details for Cyfuture Cloud's H100 instances are not publicly disclosed, but the platform emphasizes cost-effectiveness and flexible pricing models. ​

When evaluating cloud providers, it's essential to consider factors such as regional availability, support services, and additional features that align with your organization's needs.​

Factors Influencing Costs

Several elements can impact the overall cost of deploying NVIDIA H100-based instances on Azure:

Instance Configuration: The combination of vCPUs, memory, and storage alongside the GPU affects the pricing.

Usage Duration: Long-term commitments or reserved instances often come with discounted rates compared to on-demand pricing.​

Region: Data center locations can influence costs due to varying operational expenses and demand.​

Additional Services: Services such as data storage, networking, and support can add to the total expenditure.​

Conclusion

Deploying NVIDIA H100-based instances on Azure offers organizations a powerful platform for AI and HPC workloads. With the ND H100 v5 series, Azure provides scalable solutions to meet diverse computational needs. While on-demand pricing offers flexibility, exploring options like spot instances, reserved instances, or alternative providers such as Cyfuture Cloud can lead to cost savings. By carefully assessing your project's requirements and considering various pricing models, you can optimize both performance and budget.