How the calculator works
Monthly rental cost is your hours multiplied by the hourly rate. If you also enter a monthly cost of owning, such as electricity and hosting, it is subtracted from the savings. The break-even is the purchase price divided by the monthly saving from owning.
What it does not include
- Resale value of a purchased machine.
- Your time to set up and maintain owned hardware.
- Networking, accessories or a second machine for multi-node work.
- Taxes and import costs, which vary by country.
The default purchase price is the DGX Spark Founders Edition price in NVIDIA's developer-forum announcement from February 2026. Partner systems and regional prices differ, so change it to match the quote you have.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the default purchase price come from?
NVIDIA's forum announcement in February 2026 lists the DGX Spark Founders Edition at $4,699.
Why does the result say buying never pays off?
Because the monthly cost you entered for owning is at least as high as the monthly rental cost, so owning never saves money.