Codestral vs Llama 3.1 70B

Compare Mistral AI and Meta (via Together AI) AI models

Mistral AI

Codestral

Meta (via Together AI)

Llama 3.1 70B

Try Mistral AI →Try Meta (via Together AI) →

Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)

Codestral

Per Request:$0.000750

Daily:$0.075

Monthly:$2.25

Yearly:$27.375

Llama 3.1 70B

Per Request:$0.001320

Daily:$0.132

Monthly:$3.96

Yearly:$48.18

Cost Differences

+$0.000570

Per Request

+$0.057

Daily

+$1.71

Monthly

+$20.805

Yearly

Llama 3.1 70B costs more than Codestral

Feature Comparison

Feature	Codestral	Llama 3.1 70B
Provider	Mistral AI	Meta (via Together AI)
Input Price	$0.30/1M tokens	$0.88/1M tokens
Output Price	$0.90/1M tokens	$0.88/1M tokens
Context Window	128,000 tokens	128,000 tokens
Max Output	32,768 tokens	32,768 tokens
Category	balanced	balanced
Capabilities	textcode	textcode
Release Date	7/30/2025	7/23/2024

Codestral vs Llama 3.1 70B: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between Codestral and Llama 3.1 70B depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Codestral is the more affordable option at $0.30/1M input tokens — 66% cheaper than Llama 3.1 70B.

These models come from different providers — Mistral AI and Meta (via Together AI) — which means different API ecosystems, SDKs, rate limits, and terms of service. If you're already integrated with Mistral AI, switching to Meta (via Together AI)involves migration effort beyond just pricing. Factor in your existing infrastructure when deciding.

Both models are in the balanced category, making this a direct head-to-head comparison. At scale — say 10,000 requests per day — the cost difference adds up: Codestral would save you roughly $171.00/month compared to Llama 3.1 70B. For startups and indie developers, that difference can be significant.

Output costs matter too. Codestral charges $0.90/1M output tokens vs $0.88 for Llama 3.1 70B. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. Codestral has the edge here at $0.90/1M output tokens.

Best Use Cases

Choose Codestral when:

• Budget is a primary concern
• You're already using Mistral AI's API ecosystem

Choose Llama 3.1 70B when:

• You're already using Meta (via Together AI)'s API ecosystem

Try Different Scenarios

Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns

Codestral (Mistral AI)

Cost Calculator

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Model

Input Tokens

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Llama 3.1 70B (Meta (via Together AI))

Cost Calculator

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Codestral or Llama 3.1 70B?▼

Codestral is cheaper for input tokens at $0.30 per million tokens vs $0.88 for Llama 3.1 70B — that's 66% savings on input costs.

What is the context window difference between Codestral and Llama 3.1 70B?▼

Codestral supports 128,000 tokens while Llama 3.1 70B supports 128,000 tokens — a difference of 0 tokens in favor of Codestral.

Which model is better for AI Chatbot?▼

Both models support text. For ai chatbot, Codestral is the lower-cost option, while Codestral offers a larger context window (128,000 vs 128,000 tokens). Choose Codestral for budget sensitivity or Codestral for longer context tasks.

Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?▼

At 100 requests/day with 1,000 input and 500 output tokens each, Codestral costs about $2.25/month and Llama 3.1 70B costs about $3.96/month. Overall, Codestral has lower combined input + output rates ($0.30 in, $0.90 out) vs Llama 3.1 70B.