Deploy your Golang services on ARM64 architecture in Azure Kubernetes Service.

Running a Go (Golang) service on ARM64 architecture for Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) cluster nodes with a Linux OS is cheaper due to a combination of ARM64’s inherent efficiencies, Azure’s pricing model, and Go’s compatibility with the architecture. Below, I’ll explain why this is the case, tying together the hardware, software, and operational cost advantages specifically for a Go-based service.

1. ARM64’s Energy Efficiency Benefits Go Services

ARM64 processors, built on the RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture, are designed for efficiency:

• Lower Power Consumption: ARM64 cores use less energy per instruction than x86 (CISC-based) processors. For a Go service—typically lightweight, concurrent, and network-heavy (e.g., web servers or APIs)—this means the CPU spends less power on compute cycles, reducing the operational cost of AKS nodes.
• High Performance per Watt: Go’s concurrency model (goroutines) thrives on multi-core systems. ARM64 chips, like those in Azure’s Ampere Altra-based VMs (e.g., Dpsv5 series), offer many cores (up to 128 per chip) at low power, allowing your Go service to handle more requests per watt compared to x86.

In Azure, this translates to lower costs for ARM64-based VMs (e.g., ~$0.05/hour for a 4-vCPU Dpsv5 VM vs. ~$0.07/hour for an x86 Dv5 VM), directly reducing the expense of running your Go service on AKS.

2. Cheaper Hardware Costs for ARM64

ARM64 processors are less expensive to produce and deploy:

• Simpler Design: The RISC architecture uses fewer transistors, lowering manufacturing costs compared to x86’s complex designs from Intel or AMD.
• Competitive Licensing: ARM’s licensing model allows vendors like Ampere (used in Azure) to create cost-effective, high-core-count chips, unlike the x86 duopoly, which commands higher prices.
• Core Density: ARM64 chips pack more cores into a single die (e.g., 64 or 128 cores), enabling Azure to offer high-performance VMs at a lower price per vCPU.

For a Go service on AKS, this means you can run your application on a node with, say, 16 vCPUs for less money than an equivalent x86 node, maximizing throughput for your goroutine-heavy workload without increasing costs.

3. Go’s Compatibility and Efficiency on ARM64

Go is particularly well-suited to ARM64, enhancing the cost advantage:

• Native ARM64 Support: Go has supported ARM64 since version 1.1 (2013), and modern versions (e.g., 1.21+ as of March 06, 2025) are fully optimized for it. Compiling your Go service for ARM64 (GOARCH=arm64 GOOS=linux) produces a binary that runs natively, avoiding emulation overhead.
• Lightweight Binaries: Go compiles to a single, statically linked binary by default (with CGO_ENABLED=0), which reduces memory and CPU usage on ARM64 nodes. This efficiency means fewer resources are consumed per pod, allowing you to run more instances of your service on fewer, cheaper nodes.
• Concurrency Advantage: Go’s goroutines map efficiently to ARM64’s multi-core designs. For example, a service handling thousands of concurrent connections (e.g., an HTTP server) can leverage 32+ ARM64 cores at a lower cost than on x86, where fewer cores might require more nodes.

4. Azure’s ARM64 Pricing for AKS

Azure prices ARM64-based VMs lower than x86 equivalents, directly impacting AKS costs:

• VM Cost Savings: ARM64 VMs like the Dpsv5 series (e.g., 4 vCPUs, 16 GiB RAM) might cost $0.05/hour, while a comparable x86 Dv5 VM costs $0.07/hour. For a 10-node AKS cluster running 24/7, that’s $0.02/hour × 10 nodes × 720 hours/month = $144/month saved.
• Spot and Reserved Discounts: ARM64 VMs often qualify for spot pricing or reserved instance discounts, further reducing costs for your Go service deployment.
• Node Pool Efficiency: AKS charges based on the underlying VM cost. Since ARM64 nodes are cheaper and Go services are resource-efficient, you can scale your cluster horizontally (more pods per node) rather than vertically (more nodes), keeping expenses down.

5. Reduced Operational Overhead

ARM64’s design indirectly lowers costs beyond just the VM price:

• Lower Heat Output: ARM64 processors generate less heat due to their efficiency, reducing Azure’s data center cooling costs. While this isn’t a direct line item for you, it contributes to Azure offering ARM64 VMs at a lower rate.
• Higher Node Density: Less heat and power draw allow Azure to pack more ARM64 nodes into the same rack space, optimizing infrastructure costs and passing savings to AKS users running Go services.

Practical Example: Go Service on AKS

Imagine a Go-based REST API deployed on AKS:

• Workload: Handles 10,000 concurrent requests with goroutines.
• ARM64 Node: A Dpsv5 VM with 16 vCPUs costs ~$0.20/hour and runs 20 pods (thanks to ARM64’s core density and Go’s efficiency).
• x86 Node: A Dv5 VM with 16 vCPUs costs ~$0.28/hour but might only run 15 pods due to higher per-core overhead.

Monthly cost:

• ARM64: $0.20/hour × 720 hours = $144/node.
• x86: $0.28/hour × 720 hours = $201.60/node.
• Savings: $57.60/node/month, plus potential for fewer nodes due to higher pod density.

For a 5-node cluster, that’s $288/month saved, purely from ARM64’s cost efficiency—ideal for a lean Go service.

Why Go + ARM64 + AKS is a Cost Winner

• Go’s Simplicity: No runtime dependencies (unlike Java or Python) mean your service uses minimal resources, amplifying ARM64’s efficiency edge.
• AKS Alignment: Kubernetes loves lightweight, scalable workloads, and ARM64 nodes provide the cheapest way to run them in Azure.
• Linux Synergy: AKS nodes run Linux (e.g., Ubuntu or Azure Linux), which is ARM64’s native habitat, ensuring zero compatibility friction for your Go binary.

Conclusion

ARM64 is cheaper to run a Go service on AKS cluster nodes in Azure on Linux because of its energy-efficient RISC design, lower hardware costs, and Azure’s competitive VM pricing—all of which pair beautifully with Go’s lightweight, concurrent nature. You get more performance per dollar: cheaper nodes (e.g., $0.05 vs. $0.07/hour per 4 vCPUs), higher core density for goroutines, and reduced resource overhead. Compiling your Go app for ARM64 (GOARCH=arm64 GOOS=linux) unlocks these savings, making it a cost-effective choice for scalable, modern services on AKS.