Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) offers a pay-as-you-go pricing model with various options to manage expenses, including reserved VM instances for steady-state usage, Spot Virtual Machines for up-to-90% less on-demand prices, and cost optimization design principles. AKS also provides preset cluster configurations, resource requests and limits, and automation solutions such as CAST AI to optimize costs. By implementing these strategies, users can significantly reduce their AKS bills while improving performance and unlocking new opportunities.