Analyst: Oracle Database 11g Easier to Manage than SQL Server 2008

The study noted that while both products have features to help DBAs with such tasks, DBAs can perform typical administrative functions in 41 percent less time when using Oracle Database 11g compared with Microsoft SQL Server 2008.
Additionally, Oracle Database 11g requires 43 percent fewer steps for the same set of standard RDBMS tasks than Microsoft SQL Server 2008 based on Edison’s metric for complexity assessment. With this increased DBA productivity due to lower complexity and higher efficiency cited above, businesses could save up to $33,520.47 per year per DBA by using Oracle Database 11g instead of Microsoft SQL Server 2008.
The Edison Group discovered two main areas of difference between the two products:
Backup and recovery: Oracle Database 11g offers architectural and functional capabilities beyond those offered by SQL Server 2008. Oracle Database 11g took 53 percent less time and 60 percent fewer steps than Microsoft SQL Server in backup and recovery tasks.
Performance diagnostics and tuning: Oracle Database 11g demonstrated a significant 87 percent savings in time.

You can read more at Edison Comparative Management Cost Study.