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Llama 3.1 405B vs Mistral Medium 3.1

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

Meta (via Together AI)
Llama 3.1 405B
vs
Mistral AI
Mistral Medium 3.1

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

Mistral Medium 3.1

Per Request:$0.001400
Daily:$0.14
Monthly:$4.20
Yearly:$51.10

Cost Differences

$0.003850
Per Request
$0.385
Daily
$11.55
Monthly
$140.525
Yearly

Mistral Medium 3.1 costs less than Llama 3.1 405B

Feature Comparison

FeatureLlama 3.1 405BMistral Medium 3.1
ProviderMeta (via Together AI)Mistral AI
Input Price$3.50/1M tokens$0.40/1M tokens
Output Price$3.50/1M tokens$2.00/1M tokens
Context Window128,000 tokens131,072 tokens
Max Output32,768 tokens16,384 tokens
Categoryflagshipbalanced
Capabilities
textcodereasoning
textcodereasoning
Release Date7/23/20248/1/2025

Llama 3.1 405B vs Mistral Medium 3.1: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between Llama 3.1 405B and Mistral Medium 3.1 depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Mistral Medium 3.1 is the more affordable option at $0.40/1M input tokens89% cheaper than Llama 3.1 405B. Meanwhile, Mistral Medium 3.1 offers a significantly larger context window at 131,072 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 Mistral Medium 3.1 is balanced. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Llama 3.1 405B is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while Mistral Medium 3.1 offers better value for routine operations.

Output costs matter too. Llama 3.1 405B charges $3.50/1M output tokens vs $2.00 for Mistral Medium 3.1. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. Mistral Medium 3.1 has the edge here at $2.00/1M output tokens.

Best Use Cases

Choose Llama 3.1 405B when:

  • • You need longer outputs (up to 32,768 tokens)
  • • You're already using Meta (via Together AI)'s API ecosystem

Choose Mistral Medium 3.1 when:

  • • Budget is a primary concern
  • • You need a larger context window (131,072 tokens)
  • • You're already using Mistral AI's API ecosystem

Try Different Scenarios

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

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

Mistral Medium 3.1 (Mistral AI)

Start using Llama 3.1 405B today

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Start using Mistral Medium 3.1 today

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Llama 3.1 405B or Mistral Medium 3.1?
Mistral Medium 3.1 is cheaper for input tokens at $0.40 per million tokens vs $3.50 for Llama 3.1 405B — that's 89% savings on input costs.
What is the context window difference between Llama 3.1 405B and Mistral Medium 3.1?
Llama 3.1 405B supports 128,000 tokens while Mistral Medium 3.1 supports 131,072 tokens — a difference of 3,072 tokens in favor of Mistral Medium 3.1.
Which model is better for AI Agent / Agentic Workflows?
Both models support text, code, reasoning. For ai agent / agentic workflows, Mistral Medium 3.1 is the lower-cost option, while Mistral Medium 3.1 offers a larger context window (131,072 vs 128,000 tokens). Choose Mistral Medium 3.1 for budget sensitivity or Mistral Medium 3.1 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 Mistral Medium 3.1 costs about $4.20/month. Overall, Mistral Medium 3.1 has lower combined input + output rates ($0.40 in, $2.00 out) vs Llama 3.1 405B.

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