Llama 3.1 70B vs Mistral Medium 3.5

Llama 3.1 70B vs Mistral Medium 3.5: Llama 3.1 70B is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($0.88/M vs $1.50/M input tokens), while Mistral Medium 3.5 is better for long-context tasks (256,000 tokens).

Direct answer: choose Llama 3.1 70B 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.

Meta (via Together AI)

Llama 3.1 70B

Mistral AI

Mistral Medium 3.5

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Llama 3.1 70B pricing page Mistral Medium 3.5 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 70B

Per Request:$0.001320

Daily:$0.132

Monthly:$3.96

Yearly:$48.18

Mistral Medium 3.5

Per Request:$0.005250

Daily:$0.525

Monthly:$15.75

Yearly:$191.625

Cost Differences

+$0.003930

Per Request

+$0.393

Daily

+$11.79

Monthly

+$143.445

Yearly

Mistral Medium 3.5 costs more than Llama 3.1 70B

Quick Recommendation

Winner for direct API pricing: Llama 3.1 70B. At the default workload, Llama 3.1 70B saves about $11.79/month ($143.445/year) versus Mistral Medium 3.5.

Llama 3.1 70B full pricing breakdown Mistral Medium 3.5 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 70B	Mistral Medium 3.5
Provider	Meta (via Together AI)	Mistral AI
Input Price	$0.88/1M tokens	$1.50/1M tokens
Output Price	$0.88/1M tokens	$7.50/1M tokens
Context Window	128,000 tokens	256,000 tokens
Max Output	32,768 tokens	32,768 tokens
Category	balanced	flagship
Capabilities	textcode	textvisioncodereasoning
Release Date	7/23/2024	4/29/2026

Llama 3.1 70B vs Mistral Medium 3.5: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between Llama 3.1 70B and Mistral Medium 3.5 depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Llama 3.1 70B is the more affordable option at $0.88/1M input tokens — 41% cheaper than Mistral Medium 3.5. Meanwhile, Mistral Medium 3.5 offers a significantly larger context window at 256,000 tokens vs 128,000 for Llama 3.1 70B.

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 70B is a balanced model while Mistral Medium 3.5 is flagship. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Mistral Medium 3.5 targets more demanding workloads, while Llama 3.1 70B provides a cost-effective option for everyday tasks.

Output costs matter too. Llama 3.1 70B charges $0.88/1M 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 70B has the edge here at $0.88/1M output tokens.

Multimodal capabilities: Mistral Medium 3.5 supports vision (image inputs) while Llama 3.1 70B is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.

Best Use Cases

Choose Llama 3.1 70B when:

• Budget is a primary concern
• You're already using Meta (via Together AI)'s API ecosystem

Choose Mistral Medium 3.5 when:

• You need a larger context window (256,000 tokens)
• You need more capabilities (vision, reasoning)
• You're already using Mistral AI's API ecosystem

Pros and Caveats at a Glance

Llama 3.1 70B

• Input pricing: $0.88/M tokens
• Output pricing: $0.88/M tokens
• Context window: 128,000 tokens
• Max output: 32,768 tokens

Watch out for

• 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 input cost than Llama 3.1 70B
• Higher output cost than Llama 3.1 70B

Try Different Scenarios

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

Llama 3.1 70B (Meta (via Together AI))

Cost Calculator

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Mistral Medium 3.5 (Mistral AI)

Cost Calculator

Provider

Model

Input Tokens

Output Tokens

Requests/Day

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Llama 3.1 70B or Mistral Medium 3.5?▼

Llama 3.1 70B is cheaper for input tokens at $0.88 per million tokens vs $1.50 for Mistral Medium 3.5 — that's 41% savings on input costs.

What is the context window difference between Llama 3.1 70B and Mistral Medium 3.5?▼

Llama 3.1 70B supports 128,000 tokens while Mistral Medium 3.5 supports 256,000 tokens — a difference of 128,000 tokens in favor of Mistral Medium 3.5.

Which model is better for AI Chatbot?▼

Both models support text. For ai chatbot, Llama 3.1 70B is the lower-cost option, while Mistral Medium 3.5 offers a larger context window (256,000 vs 128,000 tokens). Choose Llama 3.1 70B for budget sensitivity or Mistral Medium 3.5 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 70B costs about $3.96/month and Mistral Medium 3.5 costs about $15.75/month. Overall, Llama 3.1 70B has lower combined input + output rates ($0.88 in, $0.88 out) vs Mistral Medium 3.5.

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.