In last 30 years, there is a rapid growth in area of cement and concrete technology and also in adding admixtures such as a pozzolanic admixture, etc. which improved the performance characteristics of concrete. Hence the construction industry demands the right type and right quality of concrete for right applications by which durability of structures can be improved [1]. In recent years, the term high performance concrete (HPC) is raised to increases the concrete of high strength, which represents a better performance. Also, the primary objectives in developing these were to have adequate resistance to aggressive environments. There are rapid research and developments in various types of admixtures including pozzolanic admixtures by the application of which the performance characteristics of high-performance concrete can be further improved at lesser cost. In the construction of important structures, the pozzolanic admixture preferred is micro silica, which cost is more. Hence, there is need to find an alternative which must be cost effective. For the design of high-performance concrete, various tests are carried out on micro silica and metakaolin. Different pozzolanic admixtures viz. micro silica and metakaolin are blended with cement in varying percentages such as 7%, 8.5%, 10%, and 12%. Among these percentage replacements the 10% replacement holds good. The cost effectiveness of these admixtures is also carried out. It is observed from experimental work that metakaolin is cost effective pozzolanic admixture which develops high performance concrete (HPC). Considering the cost benefit ratio, metakaolin supersedes micro silica in cost per cum. About 50% cost will be saved hence it can be the best economical alternative to micro silica. © 2023 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.