Llama 3.1 405B vs Ministral 3 8B

Llama 3.1 405B vs Ministral 3 8B: Ministral 3 8B is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($0.15/M vs $3.50/M input tokens), while Ministral 3 8B is better for long-context tasks (256,000 tokens).

Direct answer: choose Ministral 3 8B for lower token spend and choose Ministral 3 8B when your workload needs longer context.

Compare input and output token pricing, context windows, and monthly cost estimates on one page so you can pick the cheaper model fast.

Meta (via Together AI)

Llama 3.1 405B

Mistral AI

Ministral 3 8B

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Llama 3.1 405B pricing page Ministral 3 8B pricing page Meta (via Together AI) provider overview Mistral AI provider overview

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

Llama 3.1 405B

Per Request:$0.005250

Daily:$0.525

Monthly:$15.75

Yearly:$191.625

Ministral 3 8B

Per Request:$0.000225

Daily:$0.0225

Monthly:$0.675

Yearly:$8.2125

Cost Differences

$0.005025

Per Request

$0.5025

Daily

$15.075

Monthly

$183.4125

Yearly

Ministral 3 8B costs less than Llama 3.1 405B

Quick Recommendation

Winner for direct API pricing: Ministral 3 8B. At the default workload, Ministral 3 8B saves about $15.075/month ($183.4125/year) versus Llama 3.1 405B.

Llama 3.1 405B full pricing breakdown Ministral 3 8B full pricing breakdown Meta (via Together AI) API pricing details Mistral AI API pricing details Meta (via Together AI) vs Mistral AI API pricing Codex Mini vs Mistral Medium 3.5 Codex Mini vs Mistral Large 3

Feature Comparison

Feature	Llama 3.1 405B	Ministral 3 8B
Provider	Meta (via Together AI)	Mistral AI
Input Price	$3.50/1M tokens	$0.15/1M tokens
Output Price	$3.50/1M tokens	$0.15/1M tokens
Context Window	128,000 tokens	256,000 tokens
Max Output	32,768 tokens	32,768 tokens
Category	flagship	efficient
Capabilities	textcodereasoning	textvision
Release Date	7/23/2024	12/2/2025

Llama 3.1 405B vs Ministral 3 8B: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between Llama 3.1 405B and Ministral 3 8B depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Ministral 3 8B is the more affordable option at $0.15/1M input tokens — 96% cheaper than Llama 3.1 405B. Meanwhile, Ministral 3 8B offers a significantly larger context window at 256,000 tokens vs 128,000 for Llama 3.1 405B.

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

These models target different tiers: Llama 3.1 405B is a flagship model while Ministral 3 8B is efficient. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Llama 3.1 405B is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while Ministral 3 8B offers better value for routine operations.

Output costs matter too. Llama 3.1 405B charges $3.50/1M output tokens vs $0.15 for Ministral 3 8B. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. Ministral 3 8B has the edge here at $0.15/1M output tokens.

Multimodal capabilities: Ministral 3 8B 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 Llama 3.1 405B when:

• You need more capabilities (code, reasoning)
• You're already using Meta (via Together AI)'s API ecosystem

Choose Ministral 3 8B when:

• Budget is a primary concern
• You need a larger context window (256,000 tokens)
• You're already using Mistral AI's API ecosystem
• You're running high-volume, latency-sensitive workloads

Pros and Caveats at a Glance

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 Ministral 3 8B
• Higher output cost than Ministral 3 8B
• Smaller context window than Ministral 3 8B

Ministral 3 8B

• Input pricing: $0.15/M tokens
• Output pricing: $0.15/M tokens
• Context window: 256,000 tokens
• Max output: 32,768 tokens

Watch out for

• Trade-offs are minor in this matchup.

Try Different Scenarios

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

Llama 3.1 405B (Meta (via Together AI))

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Ministral 3 8B (Mistral AI)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Llama 3.1 405B or Ministral 3 8B?▼

Ministral 3 8B is cheaper for input tokens at $0.15 per million tokens vs $3.50 for Llama 3.1 405B — that's 96% savings on input costs.

What is the context window difference between Llama 3.1 405B and Ministral 3 8B?▼

Llama 3.1 405B supports 128,000 tokens while Ministral 3 8B supports 256,000 tokens — a difference of 128,000 tokens in favor of Ministral 3 8B.

Which model is better for AI Chatbot?▼

Both models support text. For ai chatbot, Ministral 3 8B is the lower-cost option, while Ministral 3 8B offers a larger context window (256,000 vs 128,000 tokens). Choose Ministral 3 8B for budget sensitivity or Ministral 3 8B 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, Llama 3.1 405B costs about $15.75/month and Ministral 3 8B costs about $0.675/month. Overall, Ministral 3 8B has lower combined input + output rates ($0.15 in, $0.15 out) vs Llama 3.1 405B.

Where can I compare Meta (via Together AI) and Mistral AI API pricing beyond this model matchup?▼

See the Meta (via Together AI) vs Mistral AI provider comparison page for lineup-level averages, then review each model page for exact per-token rates.