Can we compare the cost of DBR vs DLT via pricing calculator ?

Question

Can we compare the cost of DBR vs DLT via pricing calculator ?

Answer 1

Hey @Janice Chi

Yes, you can compare DBR vs DLT via pricing calculator

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/calculator/

Here’s how:

1. Search for "Azure Databricks" in the calculator
2. Add two separate Databricks entries, one for DBR and one for DLT
3. In the first one, under “Workload Type”, select "Jobs Compute" to represent DBR
4. In the second one, select “Delta Live Table” as the Workload Type to represent DLT
5. Adjust the Configuration as needed
6. Switch between the tabs and compare the total estimated cost for each

Hope it helps!

Answer 2

Hi @Janice Chi, Thank you so much for your query.

I agree with the above answer. Additionally, to get more accurate pricing you can consider below approach as well.

If you have admin access to your Databricks workspace, the most accurate way to compare the cost of DBR and DLT is by using the billing or usage reports available in the admin console.

You can navigate to Admin Console → Billing (or sometimes under Usage, depending on your setup). From there, you can export detailed usage data and filter it by SKU type specifically:

• Jobs Compute (which corresponds to DBR workloads), and
• Delta Live Tables Core or Delta Live Tables Enhanced, depending on what your pipelines are using.

The report gives you a breakdown of actual DBU consumption, and it includes useful details like:

• Which workspace the usage came from
• The specific cluster involved
• The time period of usage
• Associated pipeline or job IDs

This method is the most reliable because it’s based on real-world usage — not estimates. You’re working with actual DBUs that were billed, so it gives you a clear picture of how much each type of workload is really costing you. It's great for comparing specific jobs or pipelines, especially if you want to understand cost efficiency or optimize future usage.

Please do not forget to click "Accept the answer” and Yes wherever the information provided helps you, this can be beneficial to other community members.If you have any other questions or still running into more issues, let me know in the "comments" and I would be happy to help you.