Llama 3.1 405B vs Mistral Medium 3.5
Llama 3.1 405B vs Mistral Medium 3.5: Mistral Medium 3.5 is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($1.50/M vs $3.50/M input tokens), while Mistral Medium 3.5 is better for long-context tasks (256,000 tokens).
Direct answer: choose Mistral Medium 3.5 for lower token spend and choose Mistral Medium 3.5 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.
Cost Comparison (1000 input + 500 output tokens, 100 requests/day)
Llama 3.1 405B
Mistral Medium 3.5
Cost Differences
Mistral Medium 3.5 costs less than Llama 3.1 405B
Quick Recommendation
Winner for direct API pricing: Mistral Medium 3.5. At the default workload, Mistral Medium 3.5 saves about $0.000000/month ($0.000000/year) versus Llama 3.1 405B.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Llama 3.1 405B | Mistral Medium 3.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Meta (via Together AI) | Mistral AI |
| Input Price | $3.50/1M tokens | $1.50/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $3.50/1M tokens | $7.50/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 128,000 tokens | 256,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 32,768 tokens | 32,768 tokens |
| Category | flagship | flagship |
| Capabilities | textcodereasoning | textvisioncodereasoning |
| Release Date | 7/23/2024 | 4/29/2026 |
Llama 3.1 405B vs Mistral Medium 3.5: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between Llama 3.1 405B and Mistral Medium 3.5 depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Llama 3.1 405B is the more affordable option at $3.50/1M input tokens. Meanwhile, Mistral Medium 3.5 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.
Both models are in the flagship category, making this a direct head-to-head comparison. At scale — say 10,000 requests per day — the cost difference adds up: Llama 3.1 405B would save you roughly $0.000000/month compared to Mistral Medium 3.5. For startups and indie developers, that difference can be significant.
Output costs matter too. Llama 3.1 405B charges $3.50/1M output tokens vs $7.50 for Mistral Medium 3.5. 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: Mistral Medium 3.5 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're already using Meta (via Together AI)'s API ecosystem
Choose Mistral Medium 3.5 when:
- • Budget is a primary concern
- • You need a larger context window (256,000 tokens)
- • You need more capabilities (vision)
- • You're already using Mistral AI's API ecosystem
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 Mistral Medium 3.5
- • Smaller context window than Mistral Medium 3.5
Mistral Medium 3.5
- • Input pricing: $1.50/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $7.50/M tokens
- • Context window: 256,000 tokens
- • Max output: 32,768 tokens
Watch out for
- • Higher output cost than Llama 3.1 405B
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 3.5 (Mistral AI)
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Sign Up for Mistral AI →Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, Llama 3.1 405B or Mistral Medium 3.5?▼
What is the context window difference between Llama 3.1 405B and Mistral Medium 3.5?▼
Which model is better for AI Agent / Agentic Workflows?▼
Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?▼
Where can I compare Meta (via Together AI) and Mistral AI API pricing beyond this model matchup?▼
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