1. API Billing
API costs depend on input and output token rates, caching, and request mix. Forecast usage before comparing it with dedicated capacity; a cheaper model may not meet the same quality target.
AI FINOPS & INFRASTRUCTURE · INTERACTIVE CALCULATOR
AI Inference & Token Cost Calculator.
Compare estimated API and dedicated GPU inference costs for a workload you define. The simulated crossover changes with token mix, model capability, GPU utilization, pricing, and operating expenses.
SELECT ESTIMATED MONTHLY VOLUME
Hardware Fit: Llama 3.1 70B / Qwen 2.5 72B (AWQ / FP8)
Custom Monthly Token Count:500,000,000 tokens / mo
Cloud API Provider Invoice
$2,187.50 / mo
Linear variable billing. Rates scale directly with usage. Subject to rate limits and data transit.
Dedicated Private Cluster (vLLM)37% SAVINGS
$1,375.00 / mo
Flat reserved compute cost. Zero-retention data privacy, zero API rate limits, and sub-millisecond network transit.
Strategic FinOps Verdict
Projected Net Savings: $9,750 / year
Financial crossover occurs at approximately ~314M tokens/month.
UNIT ECONOMICS PRINCIPLES
Understanding the inference crossover
Compare costs at the same quality, latency, and availability targets. This calculator explores scenarios, not measured savings or a universal decision threshold.
2. Inference Throughput
Runtimes such as vLLM and TensorRT-LLM can batch requests, but throughput depends on the model, hardware, sequence lengths, and latency target. Benchmark your own workload before sizing GPUs.
3. Scenario Crossover
A simulated crossover depends on GPU utilization, hosting prices, staffing, and the API and model being compared. Test sensitivity to idle capacity and peak demand; there is no universal token cutoff.
4. Privacy and Operations
Dedicated infrastructure may offer more control over data handling, but retention, residency, security, and regulatory compliance require separate design and verification. This cost model cannot establish them.