Azure SQL for development

I'm looking for advice on the cheapest option to have 2-4 SQL Server databases in the Azure cloud that I can share with another developer for application development purposes only - i.e. no need for cross-region replication etc.

Ideally this is just using the equivalent of SQL Express edition but in the cloud so that I can share the same instance with others.  I'm also equiped to manage a virtual server / pc if this is required.

Does anyone have any experience with this or has tested different options to know what the cheapest way to do this is?  

I have tried Azure SQL but it's costing ~$30 per month per database for the lowest spec database (this is a reasonable cost until you have to pay it per database.... - since I'm in the development only phase and not generating an income as yet from the application).

Thanks in advance!