Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking vs Llama 3.1 405B
Pricing verdict: Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking vs Llama 3.1 405B: Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($0.75/M vs $3.50/M input tokens), while Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking is better for long-context tasks (131,072 tokens).
Direct answer: choose Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking for lower token spend and choose Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking when your workload needs longer context.
Compare API pricing, input and output token costs, context windows, and monthly estimates on one page so you can pick the right model fast.
Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking
Llama 3.1 405B
Cost Differences
Llama 3.1 405B costs more than Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking
Quick Recommendation
Winner for direct API pricing: Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking. At the default workload, Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking saves about $6.75/month ($82.125/year) versus Llama 3.1 405B.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking | Llama 3.1 405B |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Meta (via Together AI) | |
| Input Price | $0.75/1M tokens | $3.50/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $4.50/1M tokens | $3.50/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 131,072 tokens | 128,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 65,536 tokens | 32,768 tokens |
| Category | reasoning | flagship |
| Capabilities | textvisionaudiovideoreasoningstreaming | textcodereasoning |
| Release Date | 9/15/2026 | 7/23/2024 |
Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking vs Llama 3.1 405B: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking and Llama 3.1 405B depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking is the more affordable option at $0.75/1M input tokens — 79% cheaper than Llama 3.1 405B. Meanwhile, Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking offers a significantly larger context window at 131,072 tokens vs 128,000 for Llama 3.1 405B.
These models come from different providers — Google and Meta (via Together AI) — which means different API ecosystems, SDKs, rate limits, and terms of service. If you're already integrated with Google, switching to Meta (via Together AI)involves migration effort beyond just pricing. Factor in your existing infrastructure when deciding.
These models target different tiers: Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking is a reasoning model while Llama 3.1 405B is flagship. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while Llama 3.1 405B offers better value for routine operations.
Output costs matter too. Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking charges $4.50/1M output tokens vs $3.50 for Llama 3.1 405B. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. Llama 3.1 405B has the edge here at $3.50/1M output tokens.
Multimodal capabilities: Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking supports vision (image inputs) while Llama 3.1 405B is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.
Best Use Cases
Choose Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking when:
- • Budget is a primary concern
- • You need a larger context window (131,072 tokens)
- • You need more capabilities (vision, audio, video, streaming)
- • You need longer outputs (up to 65,536 tokens)
- • You're already using Google's API ecosystem
Choose Llama 3.1 405B when:
- • You're already using Meta (via Together AI)'s API ecosystem
Pros and Caveats at a Glance
Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking
- • Input pricing: $0.75/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $4.50/M tokens
- • Context window: 131,072 tokens
- • Max output: 65,536 tokens
Watch out for
- • Higher output cost than Llama 3.1 405B
Llama 3.1 405B
- • Input pricing: $3.50/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $3.50/M tokens
- • Context window: 128,000 tokens
- • Max output: 32,768 tokens
Watch out for
- • Higher input cost than Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking
- • Smaller context window than Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking
Try Different Scenarios
Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns
Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking (Google)
Llama 3.1 405B (Meta (via Together AI))
Start using Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking today
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Sign Up for Meta (via Together AI) →Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking or Llama 3.1 405B?▼
What is the context window difference between Gemini 3.8 Live Extended Thinking and Llama 3.1 405B?▼
Which model is better for AI Chatbot?▼
Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?▼
Where can I compare Google and Meta (via Together AI) API pricing beyond this model matchup?▼
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