# LLM API vs self-hosted cost calculator

Compare API spend with self-hosted inference using your own prices, request volume and GPU assumptions.

## Relevant capabilities

- Workload-based monthly cost comparison
- Break-even volume and GPU utilization
- Calculator runs in your browser

## How to compare

- Compare model quality and required latency before treating API and self-hosted requests as interchangeable.
- GPU utilization, batch size and idle capacity can change self-hosted economics materially.
- Include platform, storage, networking, operations and migration costs alongside inference compute.

## Bring these inputs

- Actual API rates and request/token volume
- Candidate model, GPU price and measured throughput
- Expected utilization, latency target and operating effort

## A practical first workflow

- Enter your real workload and prices in the calculator.
- Test representative requests on the candidate model.
- Compare low, expected and high utilization scenarios.
- Pilot at production-like load and review the measured break-even assumptions.

## Check before expanding

- Confirm output quality on representative tasks.
- Measure throughput and tail latency at target concurrency.
- Compare actual billed cost with the model after the pilot.

## Economics
Use your actual API rates, cloud prices and expected utilization. Include software and operational costs when making the buying decision.

## Switching considerations
Verify throughput, model quality, latency and operational requirements before replacing an API service.

## Free next step
Get a free deployment checklist, then create your workspace. Free expert help with your use case is also available through our contact form.

[Create your HyperLake workspace](https://app.hyperlake.cloud/users/sign_in?intent=inference-cost&offer_id=starter-checklist-v1&utm_source=hyperlake&utm_medium=owned&utm_campaign=signup-journey&utm_content=landing_hero)

[Download the free checklist](https://hyperlake.cloud/solutions/inference-cost.txt)

No free cloud capacity is promised. Deployment scope and charges are agreed separately; AWS and Google Cloud are available today.

## Sources
- https://hyperlake.cloud/tools/llm-api-vs-self-hosted-cost-calculator
- https://hyperlake.cloud/

[Discuss this workflow](https://hyperlake.cloud/contact)