Guides

How to estimate LLM API costs before you ship

A practical framework for turning traffic assumptions into monthly OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google API spend.

Published 2026-07-30

Start from product traffic

Convert daily active users and requests per user into monthly request volume. Then attach realistic input and output tokens per request.

Price the model, not the demo

Use list prices for the model you will actually call in production. Cheap prototypes on mini models can hide expensive flagship routing later.

Add cache and batch where they fit

Cached input and batch APIs can cut spend when latency allows. Model those levers before you lock a monthly budget.

FAQ

Are CentsPerToken prices live?

No. They are approximate static planning figures. Always confirm on each provider’s official pricing page.

Which calculator should I use first?

Start with the monthly usage budget planner, then refine with the multi-model API cost calculator.