LLM API Cost Benchmark 2026
Understand LLM Pricing Before Scaling Your AI Operations
Clear, standardized cost breakdowns for Large Language Models. Compare input, output, and cached token rates across state-of-the-art providers.
Model API Rates per 1M Tokens
Prices listed in USD per 1 Million tokens (1M tokens ≈ 750,000 words)
| Model Tier | Input Rate / 1M | Output Rate / 1M | Cached Input | Best Operational Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast / Lightweight Tier | $0.15 | $0.60 | $0.075 | Customer booking intent classification, automated SMS auto-replies |
| Standard Intelligence Tier | $2.50 | $10.00 | $1.25 | Smart table management, detailed sales summaries, staff schedule optimization |
| Reasoning & Advanced Tier | $15.00 | $60.00 | $7.50 | Complex multi-store inventory forecasting, enterprise financial reconciliations |
Input Tokens
Text, prompt instructions, context histories, and operational database schema sent to the language model for processing.
Output Tokens
Text generated back by the LLM, such as structured JSON responses, customer confirmation drafts, and analytics summaries.
Prompt Caching
Reusing repetitive operational context (e.g. daily menu items or menu pricing catalogs) reduces token costs by up to 50%.