Monthly AI API Cost Projection Calculator
Define your daily usage pattern and get a 30-day cost projection across the cheapest models. Last updated:
How much will my AI API cost per month? Enter your average daily request count, input tokens per request, and output tokens per request. This calculator multiplies those numbers over 30 days, prices the total against every model in our database, and shows you the 10 cheapest options. It also highlights how much you could save by switching from the most expensive model to the cheapest one for the same workload.
Daily Usage Pattern
Best Value: Llama 3.1 8b Instant
At $0.135/mo, Llama 3.1 8b Instant is the cheapest option for your workload. You'd save $179.87/mo by choosing Llama 3.1 8b Instant over GPT-5.5 Pro ($180.00/mo).
Top 10 Cheapest Models for Your Workload
1,500 requests/mo × 1,000 in + 500 out per request
| # | Model | Provider | Input Cost | Output Cost | Monthly Total | vs Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Llama 3.1 8b InstantBEST VALUE | groq | $0.075 | $0.06 | $0.135 | — |
| 2 | Embed v3 English | cohere | $0.15 | $0.00 | $0.15 | +$0.015 |
| 3 | Embed v3 Multilingual | cohere | $0.15 | $0.00 | $0.15 | +$0.015 |
| 4 | Command R7B | cohere | $0.0562 | $0.1125 | $0.1687 | +$0.0337 |
| 5 | Ministral 3B | mistral | $0.15 | $0.075 | $0.225 | +$0.09 |
| 6 | GPT-OSS 20B (Together) | together | $0.075 | $0.15 | $0.225 | +$0.09 |
| 7 | Gemini 2.0 Flash-Lite | $0.1125 | $0.225 | $0.3375 | +$0.2025 | |
| 8 | Openai/gpt Oss 20b | groq | $0.1125 | $0.225 | $0.3375 | +$0.2025 |
| 9 | Ministral 8B | mistral | $0.225 | $0.1125 | $0.3375 | +$0.2025 |
| 10 | Pixtral 12B | mistral | $0.225 | $0.1125 | $0.3375 | +$0.2025 |
How does the monthly projection work?
- Enter average requests per day — how many API calls your application makes on a typical day.
- Enter input tokens per request — the average prompt length. System prompts, conversation history, and user messages all count.
- Enter output tokens per request — the average response length the model generates.
- Read the projection — the calculator shows your monthly volume, the 10 cheapest models, and potential savings if you switch providers.
Methodology
Monthly costs are projected using a simple 30-day multiplier:
monthly_input = requests_per_day × 30 × input_tokens_per_request
monthly_output = requests_per_day × 30 × output_tokens_per_request
monthly_cost = (monthly_input / 1,000,000 × input_rate) + (monthly_output / 1,000,000 × output_rate)
The savings figure compares the cheapest model against the most expensive model in our database for the same workload. Actual savings depend on your quality requirements — the cheapest model may not be the best fit for every task. All rates are sourced from official provider pricing pages, updated daily.
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