Cost Analysis

# Azure Cost Analysis

## Quick Reference

| Intent | Workflow | Primary tools | |--------|----------|---------------| | Query historical spend | [Cost query](references/cost-query/workflow.md) | `query_costs` | | Explain a spike | [Cost investigation](references/cost-investigation.md) | `query_costs`, Resource Graph | | Analyze AKS spend | [AKS cost analysis](references/aks-cost-analysis.md) | `query_aks_costs`, Resource Graph | | Analyze AI service spend | [AI cost analysis](references/ai-cost-analysis.md) | `query_costs` |

## When to Use This Skill

Use for spend, anomalies, and AKS or AI allocation.

## MCP Tools

Use cost tools and Resource Graph first. If an operation is unavailable, follow [fallback and safety](references/tools-and-safety.md).

## Workflow

1. Confirm scope, period, currency, and breakdown. 2. Load only the matching workflow above. 3. Never transform MCP results in a shell or interpreter; request tool-side totals, grouping, sorting, or bounded follow-up queries. 4. Respect row limits and label incomplete data. 5. Separate measured cost from inferred causes and recommendations.

## Error Handling

| Error | Action | |-------|--------| | Access denied | Name the required scope and role. | | Empty result | Distinguish no data from unavailable data. | | Multiple currencies | Report each currency separately. | | Server error | Retry once; then stop with the trace ID. |