Sounds like we're basically saying the same thing, we're just getting caught up in terminology. You cannot buy a single SQL Enterprise license that covers one single CPU core. SQL Enterprise licenses are only sold in the 2-core "pack", essentially what I'm referring to as a "single SQL Enterprise license" since you do not have the option to buy anything smaller. This line item has an associated cost and part number. In this example, that part number cost is $7,128.00. (That price is negotiable dependent on the deal you can make with Microsoft.) If you found licenses for $7,128, that means $7,128 for one "license" which is equivalent to 2-cores. Not $7,128 for one single core. Licenses are only sold in the 2-pack. So in this example, 16-cores means you will be purchasing a quantity of 8 licenses (or "license packs", depending on what terminology you want to use). So your effective cost is $7,128 * 8 = $57,024. If you buy that as a new Enterprise Agreement (EA), or at the start of a new 3-year EA then your yearly cost will be $57,024 / 3 years = $19,008 per year for 3 years.

Clear as mud?