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Llama 3.1 405B vs o3-mini

Compare Meta (via Together AI) and OpenAI AI models

Meta (via Together AI)
Llama 3.1 405B
vs
OpenAI
o3-mini

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

o3-mini

Per Request:$0.003300
Daily:$0.33
Monthly:$9.90
Yearly:$120.45

Cost Differences

$0.001950
Per Request
$0.195
Daily
$5.85
Monthly
$71.175
Yearly

o3-mini costs less than Llama 3.1 405B

Feature Comparison

FeatureLlama 3.1 405Bo3-mini
ProviderMeta (via Together AI)OpenAI
Input Price$3.50/1M tokens$1.10/1M tokens
Output Price$3.50/1M tokens$4.40/1M tokens
Context Window128,000 tokens500,000 tokens
Max Output32,768 tokens65,536 tokens
Categoryflagshipreasoning
Capabilities
textcodereasoning
textreasoningcode
Release Date7/23/20241/31/2025

Llama 3.1 405B vs o3-mini: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between Llama 3.1 405B and o3-mini depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. o3-mini is the more affordable option at $1.10/1M input tokens69% cheaper than Llama 3.1 405B. Meanwhile, o3-mini offers a significantly larger context window at 500,000 tokens vs 128,000 for Llama 3.1 405B.

These models come from different providers — Meta (via Together AI) and OpenAI — which means different API ecosystems, SDKs, rate limits, and terms of service. If you're already integrated with Meta (via Together AI), switching to OpenAIinvolves 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 o3-mini is reasoning. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Llama 3.1 405B is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while o3-mini offers better value for routine operations.

Output costs matter too. Llama 3.1 405B charges $3.50/1M output tokens vs $4.40 for o3-mini. For generation-heavy workloads (content creation, code generation, summarization), output pricing often dominates your bill. o3-mini has the edge here at $4.40/1M output tokens.

Best Use Cases

Choose Llama 3.1 405B when:

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

Choose o3-mini when:

  • • Budget is a primary concern
  • • You need a larger context window (500,000 tokens)
  • • You need longer outputs (up to 65,536 tokens)
  • • You're already using OpenAI'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))

o3-mini (OpenAI)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Llama 3.1 405B or o3-mini?
o3-mini is cheaper for input tokens at $1.10 per million tokens vs $3.50 for Llama 3.1 405B — that's 69% savings on input costs.
What is the context window difference between Llama 3.1 405B and o3-mini?
Llama 3.1 405B supports 128,000 tokens while o3-mini supports 500,000 tokens — a difference of 372,000 tokens in favor of o3-mini.
Which model is better for AI Agent / Agentic Workflows?
Both models support text, code, reasoning. For ai agent / agentic workflows, o3-mini is the lower-cost option, while o3-mini offers a larger context window (500,000 vs 128,000 tokens). Choose o3-mini for budget sensitivity or o3-mini 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 o3-mini costs about $9.90/month. Overall, o3-mini has lower combined input + output rates ($1.10 in, $4.40 out) vs Llama 3.1 405B.

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