AI Cost CalculatorThe formula
Running it yourself is a fixed bill: the GPUs around the clock, plus the people and servers to keep it going - no matter how much you use it. The API is pay-per-use: your monthly tokens times the model's price. Where those two lines cross is your break-even. We also check your GPUs are fast enough and busy enough to actually keep up.
Questions
Is running my own model cheaper than an API?
Only once you're using a lot, and only if you keep the GPUs busy. Below that - and after you count the time to look after it - an API usually wins.
How much do I need to use before it's worth it?
It depends on the GPU price and which API you'd otherwise use, but it's often hundreds of millions or billions of tokens a month. The calculator gives your exact figure.
Why does 'how busy' matter so much?
A rented GPU costs the same all month whether it's working or idle. If it's mostly idle, that fixed cost is spread over very little work, so each token gets expensive. Steady, heavy use is what makes it pay.