Llama 3.1 8B vs Mistral Medium 3.5

Llama 3.1 8B vs Mistral Medium 3.5: Llama 3.1 8B is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($0.18/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 8B 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 8B

Mistral AI

Mistral Medium 3.5

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Llama 3.1 8B 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 8B

Per Request:$0.000270

Daily:$0.027

Monthly:$0.81

Yearly:$9.855

Mistral Medium 3.5

Per Request:$0.005250

Daily:$0.525

Monthly:$15.75

Yearly:$191.625

Cost Differences

+$0.004980

Per Request

+$0.498

Daily

+$14.94

Monthly

+$181.77

Yearly

Mistral Medium 3.5 costs more than Llama 3.1 8B

Quick Recommendation

Winner for direct API pricing: Llama 3.1 8B. At the default workload, Llama 3.1 8B saves about $14.94/month ($181.77/year) versus Mistral Medium 3.5.

Llama 3.1 8B 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 8B	Mistral Medium 3.5
Provider	Meta (via Together AI)	Mistral AI
Input Price	$0.18/1M tokens	$1.50/1M tokens
Output Price	$0.18/1M tokens	$7.50/1M tokens
Context Window	128,000 tokens	256,000 tokens
Max Output	32,768 tokens	32,768 tokens
Category	efficient	flagship
Capabilities	textcode	textvisioncodereasoning
Release Date	7/23/2024	4/29/2026

Llama 3.1 8B vs Mistral Medium 3.5: Which Should You Choose?

Choosing between Llama 3.1 8B and Mistral Medium 3.5 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 tokens — 88% 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 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 3.5 is flagship. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Mistral Medium 3.5 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 $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 8B has the edge here at $0.18/1M output tokens.

Multimodal capabilities: Mistral Medium 3.5 supports vision (image inputs) while Llama 3.1 8B is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.

Best Use Cases

Choose Llama 3.1 8B when:

• Budget is a primary concern
• You're already using Meta (via Together AI)'s API ecosystem
• You're running high-volume, latency-sensitive workloads

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 8B

• Input pricing: $0.18/M tokens
• Output pricing: $0.18/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 8B
• Higher output cost than Llama 3.1 8B

Try Different Scenarios

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

Llama 3.1 8B (Meta (via Together AI))

Cost Calculator

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Model

Input Tokens

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Mistral Medium 3.5 (Mistral AI)

Cost Calculator

Provider

Model

Input Tokens

Output Tokens

Requests/Day

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Start using Llama 3.1 8B today

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, Llama 3.1 8B or Mistral Medium 3.5?▼

Llama 3.1 8B is cheaper for input tokens at $0.18 per million tokens vs $1.50 for Mistral Medium 3.5 — that's 88% savings on input costs.

What is the context window difference between Llama 3.1 8B and Mistral Medium 3.5?▼

Llama 3.1 8B 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 8B 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 8B 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 8B costs about $0.81/month and Mistral Medium 3.5 costs about $15.75/month. Overall, Llama 3.1 8B has lower combined input + output rates ($0.18 in, $0.18 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.