Quantum computing is no longer science fiction. It is a game-changing technology with the power to solve problems that classical computers could never handle. However, the excitement comes with a hefty price tag. Setting up and running a quantum computing system is extremely expensive, and even accessing one through cloud services can add up quickly.
1. The cost of a single qubit in a superconducting quantum computer is estimated to be between $10,000 and $50,000.
Qubits are the building blocks of quantum computers. Unlike regular computer bits, qubits can exist in multiple states at once, making them exponentially more powerful for certain tasks. However, they are also incredibly delicate and expensive to create.
A superconducting qubit, the most commonly used type in today’s quantum computers, can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000 per unit. This is due to the complexity of materials, fabrication, and the extreme cooling required to keep them operational.
For companies looking to develop their own quantum processors, this means a significant upfront investment. The more qubits you need, the higher the cost. And since error correction requires many physical qubits to make one reliable logical qubit, the cost of scaling up quickly becomes a major financial challenge.
2. A fully operational quantum computer with 1,000 qubits could cost over $100 million.
Currently, the most advanced quantum computers have around 100-200 qubits. However, experts believe that to solve real-world problems that classical computers can’t, we will need at least 1,000 qubits or more.
But increasing the number of qubits isn’t just a matter of adding more hardware. The more qubits in a system, the harder it becomes to control errors and maintain stability. This means more advanced cooling systems, better error correction, and more precise engineering—each adding to the overall cost.
A quantum system with 1,000 qubits could easily surpass $100 million in development and operational costs, making them accessible only to well-funded organizations.
3. IBM’s Eagle processor (127 qubits) is estimated to cost tens of millions of dollars to develop.
IBM is one of the leaders in quantum computing. Their Eagle processor, which has 127 qubits, represents a major milestone in the field. But reaching this point was not cheap.
The development of Eagle required cutting-edge fabrication, custom cooling systems, and extensive research to ensure stability. While exact numbers aren’t public, estimates suggest that IBM has spent tens of millions of dollars to bring Eagle to life.
For companies looking to compete in this space, this serves as a benchmark for the kind of investment required to develop high-quality quantum processors.
4. Google’s Sycamore quantum processor (53 qubits) reportedly cost over $50 million.
Google made headlines in 2019 when it claimed to achieve quantum supremacy with its Sycamore processor. This 53-qubit quantum chip was able to perform a task in 200 seconds that would have taken a supercomputer 10,000 years.
However, achieving this level of performance came with a hefty price tag. The development and operational costs of Sycamore are estimated to be well over $50 million.
For businesses thinking about building their own quantum processors, this highlights the high financial barrier to entry. It’s not just about building the hardware—you also need the right team, infrastructure, and research budget.
5. A dilution refrigerator for cooling quantum systems can cost between $500,000 and $3 million.
One of the biggest expenses in quantum computing is cooling. Superconducting quantum computers need to be cooled to near absolute zero (-273.15°C) to function properly.
This requires a dilution refrigerator, a highly specialized piece of equipment that can cost anywhere from $500,000 to $3 million, depending on the size and complexity. These refrigerators use a mix of helium isotopes to reach the required temperatures and need constant monitoring and maintenance.
For companies setting up their own quantum labs, this is a critical cost to factor in. Even if you’re not building the quantum processor yourself, you will need advanced cooling to run any serious quantum experiments.
6. The annual operational cost of running a quantum computer, including maintenance, can exceed $10 million.
Building a quantum computer is expensive, but maintaining and running it is just as costly.
Between electricity, cooling, staffing, and hardware maintenance, the annual cost of running a quantum system can exceed $10 million. Superconducting quantum computers require constant cooling, and their fragile nature means frequent maintenance and recalibration.
For businesses looking to adopt quantum technology, cloud-based access to quantum systems might be a more cost-effective alternative compared to owning and maintaining hardware.
7. Quantum annealers like D-Wave’s Advantage (5,000+ qubits) are priced around $15 million per system.
Quantum annealers, like those developed by D-Wave, are a different type of quantum computer designed for specific optimization problems. While not as powerful as universal quantum computers, they are still highly advanced.
D-Wave’s latest Advantage system, with over 5,000 qubits, is priced at around $15 million. This makes it one of the most commercially accessible quantum systems, but still out of reach for most companies outside of major tech firms and research institutions.
8. Cloud-based quantum computing services from IBM, Google, and AWS charge $0.01 to $1 per second per qubit.
For businesses that can’t afford their own quantum hardware, cloud-based quantum computing provides an alternative.
Tech giants like IBM, Google, and Amazon offer access to quantum computers through the cloud, with pricing ranging from $0.01 to $1 per second per qubit. While this might seem affordable for small-scale experiments, complex quantum computations can quickly add up to thousands of dollars per session.
Companies considering quantum computing should carefully assess their needs before committing to cloud access.
9. A single quantum computing experiment on IBM Quantum costs between $1 and $10 for cloud access.
If you just want to try out quantum computing, IBM Quantum provides cloud-based access where small experiments can cost as little as $1 to $10. This is great for researchers, students, and startups looking to explore the field without major upfront costs.
However, for more advanced applications, costs can quickly rise. If you’re running multiple experiments or need access to premium quantum systems, cloud expenses can reach thousands of dollars per month.
10. Google’s 2019 quantum supremacy experiment cost $10 million in operational expenses.
When Google demonstrated quantum supremacy in 2019, it was a groundbreaking achievement. However, it wasn’t cheap. The entire experiment is estimated to have cost around $10 million in operational expenses, including hardware, electricity, and research efforts.
For companies looking to push the boundaries of quantum computing, this serves as an example of the scale of investment needed.
11. Power consumption of a quantum computer’s refrigeration system can reach 25 kW to 50 kW, costing $20,000+ per year in electricity.
Quantum computers operate at temperatures close to absolute zero, requiring powerful refrigeration systems. A typical dilution refrigerator consumes between 25 kW and 50 kW of power continuously.
At an average electricity rate of $0.10 per kWh, this means an annual energy cost of $20,000 or more—just for cooling. And this doesn’t include the additional power needed for control electronics, data centers, or lab facilities.
For businesses considering in-house quantum computing, factoring in operational electricity costs is essential. The infrastructure alone can be a significant financial burden.
12. Quantum error correction could require over 1,000 physical qubits per logical qubit, drastically increasing costs.
One of the biggest challenges in quantum computing is error correction. Quantum systems are highly sensitive to noise and decoherence, meaning they require redundancy to maintain accuracy.
Today’s estimates suggest that to create a single error-free “logical qubit,” you may need over 1,000 physical qubits. This means a 1,000-qubit computer capable of real-world problem-solving may require one million physical qubits, massively increasing hardware and operational costs.
Until better error correction methods are developed, scaling quantum computers will be prohibitively expensive for most organizations.
13. A quantum computing research lab setup costs $5 million to $50 million, depending on infrastructure.
Setting up a quantum computing research lab is a massive investment. The price tag ranges from $5 million for a basic lab to $50 million or more for a fully equipped facility.
This includes:
- Dilution refrigerators ($500,000 to $3 million each)
- Control electronics ($100,000+ per setup)
- Specialized shielding to prevent electromagnetic interference
- Cryogenic cooling systems
- Highly skilled quantum physicists and engineers
For startups and universities looking to get into quantum research, securing funding and partnerships is crucial due to these high setup costs.
14. IBM offers Quantum System One, an enterprise-ready quantum computer, with costs exceeding $10 million.
IBM’s Quantum System One is one of the first commercially available quantum computers designed for enterprise use. While IBM hasn’t disclosed exact pricing, industry experts estimate it costs over $10 million per system.
This price tag covers the hardware, infrastructure, and long-term operational support. However, it still lacks the error correction needed for large-scale practical applications, meaning most businesses may find cloud-based access to IBM’s quantum systems a more viable option.
15. Developing a proprietary quantum computing chip costs around $20 million to $100 million.
Creating a quantum processor from scratch is not cheap. Leading quantum research companies, such as IBM, Google, and Rigetti, invest tens to hundreds of millions of dollars in developing their quantum chips.
Fabricating quantum chips involves highly specialized semiconductor manufacturing processes, requiring clean rooms, advanced materials, and precise atomic-level engineering. Unless you are a tech giant with deep pockets, designing your own quantum processor is out of reach.
For businesses looking to enter the quantum space, collaborating with existing quantum hardware providers is often a more practical approach.
16. Hiring a team of quantum scientists and engineers costs $150,000 to $300,000 per employee per year.
Quantum computing is a highly specialized field, and hiring the right talent comes at a premium. Quantum physicists, cryogenic engineers, and software developers with expertise in quantum algorithms can command salaries between $150,000 and $300,000 per year.
A mid-sized quantum computing team of 20-30 experts can easily cost $5 million to $10 million annually in salaries alone.
For companies interested in quantum computing, outsourcing to cloud providers or partnering with universities can help reduce staffing costs while still gaining access to quantum expertise.
17. The quantum computing market is projected to reach $93 billion by 2040.
Quantum computing is still in its early stages, but its market potential is enormous. By 2040, industry analysts predict the sector will be worth $93 billion, driven by advancements in cryptography, drug discovery, and optimization problems.
This means early adopters and investors stand to benefit massively, but only if they can afford the upfront costs of research and development.
18. Government investments in quantum computing exceed $25 billion worldwide, with China leading at $15 billion.
Governments recognize the strategic importance of quantum computing. More than $25 billion has been invested globally in quantum research, with China leading at $15 billion, followed by the United States, European Union, and Canada.
For companies, this means funding opportunities exist through government grants, partnerships, and national quantum initiatives. Startups looking to enter the space should explore these funding sources to offset high development costs.
19. The U.S. National Quantum Initiative Act allocated $1.2 billion for quantum research funding.
The U.S. government has committed significant resources to quantum computing through the National Quantum Initiative Act, which allocated $1.2 billion in funding.
This funding supports research institutions, national laboratories, and private companies working on quantum breakthroughs. Businesses in the U.S. can apply for government grants or collaborate with national labs to tap into these resources.
20. A single quantum computing experiment at Google requires millions of classical simulations for validation, increasing costs.
Quantum computers don’t operate in isolation. To verify results, researchers run millions of classical simulations to compare quantum outputs. This process requires massive computational resources and increases costs significantly.
For businesses developing quantum applications, budgeting for classical computing resources alongside quantum systems is essential. Without verification, quantum results cannot be trusted.
21. Quantum startups typically raise between $50 million and $500 million in funding rounds.
Quantum startups require massive funding to compete in this space. Most companies raise between $50 million and $500 million in venture capital or government grants before developing practical quantum solutions.
Investors are betting big on quantum, but only well-funded startups have a chance at building viable systems.
22. Cryogenic cooling systems for superconducting qubits can cost up to $10 million per setup.
Cooling is one of the most expensive aspects of quantum computing. Large-scale quantum systems require cryogenic cooling setups that can cost up to $10 million per system.
Without proper cooling, superconducting qubits fail, making this investment non-negotiable for any serious quantum computing initiative.
23. Quantum computers require a near-zero temperature of 15 mK (-273.135°C), significantly increasing infrastructure costs.
To function properly, quantum computers need to be cooled to 15 millikelvin (mK)—just a fraction of a degree above absolute zero.
This extreme cooling requirement is one of the primary reasons why quantum computing remains expensive. Companies need high-end refrigeration systems, specialized facilities, and constant monitoring, driving up operational costs.
24. Classical supercomputers used for simulating quantum systems cost around $500 million to $1 billion.
Until quantum computers become more advanced, classical supercomputers are needed to simulate and validate quantum algorithms. The most powerful classical supercomputers, like Frontier and Fugaku, cost between $500 million and $1 billion to build.
For businesses exploring quantum computing, access to supercomputing resources is essential but costly.
25. Quantum computing software development costs can range from $1 million to $10 million per project.
Developing software for quantum computers is an entirely different challenge from traditional programming. Quantum algorithms require specialized expertise in quantum mechanics, linear algebra, and advanced coding languages like Qiskit (IBM), Cirq (Google), and Q# (Microsoft).
Because of this, software development costs can range from $1 million to $10 million per project, depending on complexity. This includes:
- Hiring quantum software engineers (who command six-figure salaries)
- Extensive testing using quantum simulators
- Developing quantum-classical hybrid algorithms to integrate with existing systems
For businesses considering quantum computing, the high cost of software development means outsourcing or using pre-built quantum cloud platforms may be a smarter approach than in-house development.
26. Top tech firms (Google, IBM, Amazon, Microsoft) collectively invest billions of dollars annually into quantum R&D.
The world’s biggest tech companies are in a race to dominate quantum computing. Together, Google, IBM, Amazon, and Microsoft invest billions of dollars every year in quantum research and development.
This funding supports:
- Developing more powerful quantum processors
- Improving quantum error correction
- Building cloud-based quantum computing platforms
- Hiring the world’s best quantum scientists
For smaller businesses, competing in this space requires either securing massive venture capital funding or partnering with one of these established players.
27. The cost per logical qubit could exceed $10 million, due to the need for error correction and redundancy.
Right now, quantum computers are unreliable due to errors caused by noise and decoherence. This means that instead of using a single qubit, you may need hundreds or thousands of physical qubits just to create one reliable logical qubit.
This redundancy significantly increases costs. Some estimates suggest that the cost per logical qubit could be over $10 million once error correction is factored in.
For businesses considering quantum computing, this means real-world applications are still years away from being cost-effective unless major breakthroughs in error correction occur.
28. The annual operating budget for a quantum computing research center can be $20 million to $100 million.
Universities, national labs, and private research centers dedicated to quantum computing require massive funding to stay competitive. The annual budget for a quantum computing research center can range from $20 million to $100 million.
This covers:
- Quantum hardware development
- Staffing teams of PhDs and engineers
- Maintaining cryogenic and lab infrastructure
- Running experiments and simulations
For companies looking to enter quantum computing, partnering with research institutions can be a more practical and cost-effective way to gain access to quantum expertise.
29. Quantum computing chip fabrication requires specialized foundries, with startup costs exceeding $500 million.
Unlike classical semiconductor chips, quantum processors require specialized fabrication techniques that are not available in regular chip factories.
Setting up a dedicated quantum chip fabrication facility costs upwards of $500 million, making it nearly impossible for startups or small companies to build their own chips.
Instead, most companies partner with national research labs or use facilities from IBM, Intel, or Google to develop their quantum chips.
30. A commercial quantum computing cloud service, like Amazon Braket, can cost up to $1,000 per hour for high-fidelity simulations.
Quantum computing is expensive not just in hardware, but also in cloud-based access. Services like IBM Quantum, Google Quantum AI, and Amazon Braket allow businesses to run quantum simulations, but costs can reach $1,000 per hour for high-fidelity quantum computations.
For most businesses, carefully managing cloud usage is necessary to keep costs under control. Quantum computing is powerful, but unless you are solving highly complex problems, traditional computing may still be the more cost-effective option.
wrapping it up
Quantum computing is a revolutionary technology, but it is not cheap. The cost of building, running, and maintaining a quantum system runs into millions or even billions of dollars, making it a space dominated by governments, tech giants, and well-funded research institutions.
For now, quantum computing is not practical for most businesses. The hardware is expensive, error correction is a major challenge, and the operational costs are enormous. However, this does not mean businesses should ignore it.
The companies that start experimenting with quantum computing today—whether through cloud services, research partnerships, or hiring quantum talent—will have a first-mover advantage when the costs eventually come down.
