AI Token Cost Calculator by Model
Calculate AI token costs by model with complete explanations. Learn API pricing, token usage, and cost optimization. Free calculator.
Quick Answer
Token Cost = (Input Tokens + Output Tokens) × Price per 1K Tokens ÷ 1000. Different models have different pricing tiers. GPT-4: ~$0.03/1K input, $0.06/1K output. Essential for AI budgeting, API cost management, and model selection.
Calculate AI Token Costs by Model
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Calculate With Full ToolWhat are AI Token Costs?
AI token costs represent the pricing structure for using AI language models through APIs. Tokens are chunks of text (approximately 4 characters for English) that models process as input and generate as output. Different models have different pricing tiers based on their capabilities and computational requirements.
How Token Pricing Works
AI providers charge per 1,000 tokens for both input and output, often at different rates. Input tokens (your prompt) typically cost less than output tokens (AI response). Understanding token usage helps optimize prompts and control API costs effectively.
Model Selection Impact
Different models offer varying capabilities at different price points. Advanced models like GPT-4 cost more but provide better reasoning, while smaller models like GPT-3.5 are cheaper for simpler tasks. Choosing the right model balances cost and performance.
AI Token Cost Formulas
Cost per Request = (Input Tokens × Input Price + Output Tokens × Output Price) ÷ 1000
Daily Cost = Cost per Request × Requests per Day
Monthly Cost = Daily Cost × 30
GPT-4 Turbo: ~$0.0010/1K input, $0.0030/1K output
GPT-4: ~$0.03/1K input, $0.06/1K output
Claude 3 Opus: ~$0.015/1K input, $0.075/1K output
Token Estimation: ~4 characters = 1 token (English)
Cost Optimization: Minimize tokens while maintaining quality
Step-by-Step Example
Example: GPT-4 Turbo with 100 requests/day
Step 1: Input tokens: 100 requests × 500 tokens = 50,000 tokens
Step 2: Output tokens: 100 requests × 200 tokens = 20,000 tokens
Step 3: Input cost: 50,000 × $0.0010 ÷ 1000 = $0.05
Step 4: Output cost: 20,000 × $0.0030 ÷ 1000 = $0.06
Step 5: Daily cost: $0.05 + $0.06 = $0.11 per day
Step 6: Monthly cost: $0.11 × 30 = $3.30 per month
Example: Model comparison for same task
Step 1: Task: 1,000 input tokens, 300 output tokens
Step 2: GPT-4 Turbo: (1000×$0.001 + 300×$0.003) ÷ 1000 = $0.0019
Step 3: GPT-4: (1000×$0.03 + 300×$0.06) ÷ 1000 = $0.048
Step 4: Cost difference: $0.048 - $0.0019 = $0.0461
Step 5: GPT-4 is 25× more expensive for same task
Step 6: Choose based on quality requirements vs budget
These examples show how token costs accumulate and vary between models. Understanding these costs helps optimize AI usage and choose appropriate models for different tasks and budgets.
Who Should Use This Calculator?
Developers
Estimate API costs and optimize token usage
Product Managers
Budget AI features and model selection
Startup Founders
Plan AI expenses and pricing strategies
AI Researchers
Compare model costs for experiments
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I count tokens in my text?
Use the provider's token counting tools or libraries. For English, roughly 4 characters = 1 token, but this varies by language and content. Code and special characters may use different tokenization rules.
Why are output tokens more expensive?
Output tokens require more computational resources as the model generates new text rather than just processing existing input. This higher computational cost is reflected in the pricing structure.
How can I reduce token costs?
Optimize prompts to be concise, use smaller models for simple tasks, implement caching for repeated queries, limit output length, and use system messages efficiently. Consider fine-tuning for specific use cases.
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