Infracost MCP Server


Note: This is a community-maintained MCP server. It is not an official Model Context Protocol server from Infracost.
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for running the Infracost CLI to estimate, compare, and publish infrastructure cost changes from Terraform and other Infrastructure as Code projects.
Overview
This server provides eight MCP tools across estimation, reporting, collaboration, and operations workflows:
infracost_breakdown to generate baseline cost estimates.
infracost_diff to compare planned cost changes.
infracost_output to render existing Infracost JSON in different formats.
infracost_comment to post PR comments on supported SCM platforms.
infracost_upload to upload reports to Infracost Cloud.
infracost_configure to get or set CLI configuration.
infracost_auth to run authentication flow.
infracost_generate_usage to generate usage files with sensible defaults.
This MCP server is platform-agnostic and works in local and CI environments:
- Local development
- GitHub Actions
- GitLab CI/CD
- Azure DevOps
- CircleCI, Jenkins, and Bitbucket Pipelines
- AI Agents and Copilot workflows
The primary requirements are Node.js and the Infracost CLI binary.
| Tool | Category | Typical outcome |
|---|
infracost_breakdown | Estimation | Monthly cost baseline for current IaC |
infracost_diff | Comparison | Cost delta from a planned change |
infracost_output | Reporting | Rendered table/JSON/HTML/comment output |
infracost_comment | Collaboration | PR comment with estimated impact |
infracost_upload | Cloud Sync | Cost report visible in Infracost Cloud |
infracost_configure | Configuration | Persisted CLI config update/read |
infracost_auth | Authentication | Login flow for Infracost Cloud |
infracost_generate_usage | Utilities | Pre-filled usage file template with defaults |
infracost_breakdown
Runs infracost breakdown.
Inputs:
workingDirectory (string, optional): Command working directory.
path (string, optional): Path to Terraform/IaC directory or plan JSON.
configFile (string, optional): Path to Infracost config file.
usageFile (string, optional): Path to usage file.
format (string, optional): Output format. Default: table.
fields (string[], optional): Fields to include in output.
showSkus (boolean, optional): Include SKU details.
syncUsageFile (boolean, optional): Sync usage file with detected resources.
compareTo (string, optional): Baseline Infracost JSON path.
terraformWorkspace (string, optional): Terraform workspace.
terraformPlanFlags (string, optional): Flags for terraform plan.
timeoutSeconds (number, optional): Timeout in seconds.
extraArgs (string[], optional): Additional CLI arguments.
infracost_diff
Runs infracost diff.
Inputs:
workingDirectory (string, optional): Command working directory.
path (string, optional): Path to Terraform/IaC directory or plan JSON.
configFile (string, optional): Path to Infracost config file.
usageFile (string, optional): Path to usage file.
format (string, optional): Output format. Default: table.
compareTo (string, optional): Baseline Infracost JSON path.
showSkus (boolean, optional): Include SKU details.
syncUsageFile (boolean, optional): Sync usage file with detected resources.
terraformWorkspace (string, optional): Terraform workspace.
terraformPlanFlags (string, optional): Flags for terraform plan.
timeoutSeconds (number, optional): Timeout in seconds.
extraArgs (string[], optional): Additional CLI arguments.
infracost_output
Runs infracost output.
Inputs:
workingDirectory (string, optional): Command working directory.
path (string, optional): Infracost JSON file path. Auto-detected when omitted.
format (string, optional): Output format. Default: table.
fields (string[], optional): Fields to include in output.
showSkus (boolean, optional): Include SKU details.
timeoutSeconds (number, optional): Timeout in seconds.
extraArgs (string[], optional): Additional CLI arguments.
Runs infracost comment.
Inputs:
workingDirectory (string, optional): Command working directory.
platform (string, optional): Platform (github, gitlab, azure-repos, bitbucket). Default: github.
path (string, optional): Infracost JSON file path. Auto-detected when omitted.
repo (string, optional): Repository (owner/repo).
pullRequest (string, optional): Pull request number.
commit (string, optional): Commit SHA.
token (string, optional): Platform token.
tag (string, optional): Comment tag.
behavior (string, optional): Comment update behavior.
dryRun (boolean, optional): Generate without posting.
timeoutSeconds (number, optional): Timeout in seconds.
extraArgs (string[], optional): Additional CLI arguments.
infracost_upload
Runs infracost upload.
Inputs:
workingDirectory (string, optional): Command working directory.
path (string, optional): Infracost JSON file path. Auto-detected when omitted.
timeoutSeconds (number, optional): Timeout in seconds.
extraArgs (string[], optional): Additional CLI arguments.
Runs infracost configure.
Inputs:
workingDirectory (string, optional): Command working directory.
set (string, optional): Set configuration value.
get (string, optional): Read configuration value.
timeoutSeconds (number, optional): Timeout in seconds.
extraArgs (string[], optional): Additional CLI arguments.
infracost_auth
Runs infracost auth login.
Inputs:
workingDirectory (string, optional): Command working directory.
timeoutSeconds (number, optional): Timeout in seconds.
extraArgs (string[], optional): Additional CLI arguments.
infracost_generate_usage
Generates an Infracost usage file with sensible defaults for specified resource types. This is a utility tool that complements infracost_configure by providing pre-filled templates you can customize for your workloads. Returns both raw JSON and formatted guidance.
Inputs:
resourceTypes (string[], required): Resource types to include (e.g., ["aws_lambda_function", "aws_s3_bucket"]).
outputFilePath (string, optional): Path where usage file should be saved (for guidance only).
includeGuidance (boolean, optional): Include formatted guidance. Default: true.
onlyJson (boolean, optional): Return only raw JSON (no guidance). Default: false.
Supported resource types: aws_lambda_function, aws_instance, aws_db_instance, aws_s3_bucket, aws_dynamodb_table, aws_ebs_volume, aws_cloudfront_distribution, aws_lb, aws_nat_gateway, google_compute_instance, google_storage_bucket, azurerm_windows_virtual_machine, azurerm_linux_virtual_machine, azurerm_storage_account, azurerm_mssql_database.
Prompt Cookbook
Use these minimal prompts in Copilot Chat with @infracost.
CLI tools default to the current workspace root when no path is given.
If you add a file or folder as Copilot context (#file or #folder), reference it in your prompt and the tool will target that path.
The server auto-detects common report files (infracost-diff.json, infracost-base.json, infracost.json), so you usually do not need to pass path for infracost_output, infracost_comment, or infracost_upload.
Quick prompts
@infracost run infracost_breakdown
@infracost run infracost_diff
@infracost run infracost_output
@infracost run infracost_comment with dryRun true
@infracost run infracost_upload
Run breakdown (infracost_breakdown)
@infracost run infracost_breakdown
Expected output: Baseline cost estimate with command output, exit code, stdout, and stderr.
Run diff (infracost_diff)
@infracost run infracost_diff
Expected output: Cost delta from the planned change compared to current baseline.
Render output (infracost_output)
@infracost run infracost_output with format html
Expected output: Formatted output from existing Infracost JSON (auto-detected when possible).
@infracost run infracost_comment with repo owner/repo and pullRequest 123 and dryRun true
Expected output: Generated comment payload, or posted comment when not in dry-run mode. Platform defaults to github.
Upload report (infracost_upload)
@infracost run infracost_upload
Expected output: Upload confirmation for Infracost Cloud ingestion.
@infracost run infracost_configure with:
- set: currency=USD
Expected output: Configuration update confirmation from the CLI.
Authenticate (infracost_auth)
@infracost run infracost_auth
Expected output: Authentication flow prompt or login success details.
Generate usage file (infracost_generate_usage)
@infracost run infracost_generate_usage with:
- resourceTypes: ["aws_lambda_function", "aws_s3_bucket", "aws_dynamodb_table"]
- outputFilePath: ./infracost-usage.json
- includeGuidance: true
Expected output: Pre-filled usage file JSON with sensible defaults, plus guidance on customization and usage. Use onlyJson: true to return only the JSON for programmatic handling.
Dependencies
System Dependencies
- Node.js
>=24.14.0
- npm (bundled with Node.js)
- Infracost CLI installed and available in
PATH (or via INFRACOST_BINARY_PATH)
npm Dependencies
Runtime:
@modelcontextprotocol/sdk (MCP server SDK)
Development:
typescript (build/compile)
tsx (development runner)
vitest (unit test runner)
@types/node (Node.js typings)
Environment Variables
INFRACOST_API_KEY: Infracost API key for cloud-backed features.
INFRACOST_BINARY_PATH: Override path to Infracost binary.
Installation
npm install
npm run build
Configuration
Usage with VS Code Copilot Chat
This workspace is preconfigured in .vscode/mcp.json:
{
"servers": {
"infracost": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "node",
"args": ["./dist/index.js"]
}
}
}
Reload VS Code (Cmd+Shift+P -> Developer: Reload Window) after changing MCP configuration.
Then query the server from Copilot Chat with @infracost, for example:
@infracost run infracost_breakdown
@infracost run infracost_diff
Usage with Other MCP Clients
Use stdio transport with the built entrypoint:
{
"name": "infracost-mcp-server",
"type": "stdio",
"command": "node",
"args": ["/absolute/path/to/infracost-mcp/dist/index.js"]
}
Build first with npm run build, then start your MCP client.
Running
Development mode:
Built mode:
Debugging
Use .vscode/launch.json:
Debug MCP Server (runs npm run dev)
Debug MCP Server (Built) (runs dist/index.js after build)
Set breakpoints in src/index.ts, then press F5.
Testing
See docs/TESTING.md for Copilot Chat scenarios, manual JSON-RPC checks, and troubleshooting guidance.
Quick validation prompt in Copilot Chat:
@infracost run infracost_breakdown
Interactive VS Code Workflows
1. PR Cost Impact Review
- Generate a baseline:
@infracost run infracost_breakdown with:
- path: .
- format: json
- Generate a diff:
@infracost run infracost_diff with:
- path: .
- format: diff
- Draft a PR comment:
@infracost run infracost_comment with:
- platform: github
- path: infracost-diff.json
- repo: owner/repo
- pullRequest: 123
- dryRun: true
2. Reporting Pipeline Setup
- Render a report for humans:
@infracost run infracost_output with:
- path: infracost-diff.json
- format: html
- Upload for centralized tracking:
@infracost run infracost_upload with:
- path: infracost-diff.json
3. Environment Bootstrap
- Configure defaults:
@infracost run infracost_configure with:
- set: currency=USD
- Authenticate:
@infracost run infracost_auth
Best Practices
- Keep
workingDirectory explicit when running inside monorepos.
- Use
--format json for machine processing and --format table for human triage.
- Keep
timeoutSeconds high enough for large Terraform plans.
- Prefer
infracost_comment with dryRun=true before posting to production PR threads.
- Use
infracost_upload for historical visibility in Infracost Cloud.
Additional Use Cases
- Pre-merge cost gates in pull requests.
- Scheduled baseline cost snapshots in CI.
- Cost delta reporting for release trains.
- Team-level FinOps dashboards based on uploaded reports.
Infracost Resources
Model Context Protocol
Community and Contributing
Attribution and License
Maintained by Carl Dawson under the Down At The Bottom Of The Mole Hole organization.
Development
npm run lint
npm test
npm run build
License
Licensed under the MIT License.