The Azure calculator shows "SQL Server" (with Web, Standard and Enterprise flavours) as distinct virtual machine options. The pricing of this is significantly more than for an equivalent sized non-SQL virtual machine.
The pop-up description of the SQL Serve on the calculator page indicates that it includes "the associated licencing costs", however the details section for SQL Server on the licencing page indicate that only the O/S licence is included (as is the case for standard VMs) and also talks about licence mobility - which seems to indicate that no SQL licence is included.
Can anyone confirm whether that is the case, and if so what the price difference actually represents/includes? Is it simply a reflection of the fact you are using a pre-built SQL VM? That would appear to be the case, as there doesn't seem to be a way to specifically select the creation of a SQL server VM.
That being the case and presuming that it does not include a SQL licence - is there any restriction on using an appropriately sized base VM and installing SQL manually to reduce the costs?
Grateful for any information or answers which may shed light on this for me. I'm also quite prepared for the fact that I've missed some obvious explanation somewhere!