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Llama 3.1 8B vs Mistral Medium 3.1

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

Meta (via Together AI)
Llama 3.1 8B
vs
Mistral AI
Mistral Medium 3.1

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

Llama 3.1 8B

Per Request:$0.000270
Daily:$0.027
Monthly:$0.81
Yearly:$9.855

Mistral Medium 3.1

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

Cost Differences

+$0.001130
Per Request
+$0.113
Daily
+$3.39
Monthly
+$41.245
Yearly

Mistral Medium 3.1 costs more than Llama 3.1 8B

Feature Comparison

FeatureLlama 3.1 8BMistral Medium 3.1
ProviderMeta (via Together AI)Mistral AI
Input Price$0.18/1M tokens$0.40/1M tokens
Output Price$0.18/1M tokens$2.00/1M tokens
Context Window128,000 tokens131,072 tokens
Max Output32,768 tokens16,384 tokens
Categoryefficientbalanced
Capabilities
textcode
textcodereasoning
Release Date7/23/20248/1/2025

Llama 3.1 8B vs Mistral Medium 3.1: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between Llama 3.1 8B and Mistral Medium 3.1 depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Llama 3.1 8B is the more affordable option at $0.18/1M input tokens55% cheaper than Mistral Medium 3.1. Meanwhile, Mistral Medium 3.1 offers a significantly larger context window at 131,072 tokens vs 128,000 for Llama 3.1 8B.

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 8B is a efficient model while Mistral Medium 3.1 is balanced. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Mistral Medium 3.1 targets more demanding workloads, while Llama 3.1 8B provides a cost-effective option for everyday tasks.

Output costs matter too. Llama 3.1 8B charges $0.18/1M 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. Llama 3.1 8B has the edge here at $0.18/1M output tokens.

Best Use Cases

Choose Llama 3.1 8B when:

  • • Budget is a primary concern
  • • You need longer outputs (up to 32,768 tokens)
  • • You're already using Meta (via Together AI)'s API ecosystem
  • • You're running high-volume, latency-sensitive workloads

Choose Mistral Medium 3.1 when:

  • • You need a larger context window (131,072 tokens)
  • • You need more capabilities (reasoning)
  • • 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 8B (Meta (via Together AI))

Mistral Medium 3.1 (Mistral AI)

Start using Llama 3.1 8B 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 8B or Mistral Medium 3.1?
Llama 3.1 8B is cheaper for input tokens at $0.18 per million tokens vs $0.40 for Mistral Medium 3.1 — that's 55% savings on input costs.
What is the context window difference between Llama 3.1 8B and Mistral Medium 3.1?
Llama 3.1 8B 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 Chatbot?
Both models support text. For ai chatbot, Llama 3.1 8B is the lower-cost option, while Mistral Medium 3.1 offers a larger context window (131,072 vs 128,000 tokens). Choose Llama 3.1 8B 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 8B costs about $0.81/month and Mistral Medium 3.1 costs about $4.20/month. Overall, Llama 3.1 8B has lower combined input + output rates ($0.18 in, $0.18 out) vs Mistral Medium 3.1.

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