Mistral Large 3 vs Mistral Medium 3.1
Mistral Large 3 vs Mistral Medium 3.1: Mistral Medium 3.1 is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($0.40/M vs $0.50/M input tokens), while Mistral Large 3 is better for long-context tasks (256,000 tokens).
Direct answer: choose Mistral Medium 3.1 for lower token spend and choose Mistral Large 3 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)
Mistral Large 3
Mistral Medium 3.1
Cost Differences
Mistral Medium 3.1 costs more than Mistral Large 3
Quick Recommendation
Winner for direct API pricing: Mistral Large 3. At the default workload, Mistral Large 3 saves about $0.45/month ($5.475/year) versus Mistral Medium 3.1.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Mistral Large 3 | Mistral Medium 3.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Mistral AI | Mistral AI |
| Input Price | $0.50/1M tokens | $0.40/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $1.50/1M tokens | $2.00/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 256,000 tokens | 131,072 tokens |
| Max Output | 32,768 tokens | 16,384 tokens |
| Category | flagship | balanced |
| Capabilities | textcodereasoning | textcodereasoning |
| Release Date | 12/2/2025 | 8/1/2025 |
Mistral Large 3 vs Mistral Medium 3.1: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between Mistral Large 3 and Mistral Medium 3.1 depends on your priorities: cost efficiency, context length, or raw capability. Mistral Large 3 is the more affordable option at $0.50/1M input tokens. Meanwhile, Mistral Large 3 offers a significantly larger context window at 256,000 tokens vs 131,072 for Mistral Medium 3.1.
These models target different tiers: Mistral Large 3 is a flagship model while Mistral Medium 3.1 is balanced. This means they're optimized for different workloads. Mistral Large 3 is built for complex tasks that require deeper reasoning, while Mistral Medium 3.1 offers better value for routine operations.
Output costs matter too. Mistral Large 3 charges $1.50/1M 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. Mistral Large 3 has the edge here at $1.50/1M output tokens.
Best Use Cases
Choose Mistral Large 3 when:
- • You need a larger context window (256,000 tokens)
- • You need longer outputs (up to 32,768 tokens)
- • You're already using Mistral AI's API ecosystem
Choose Mistral Medium 3.1 when:
- • Budget is a primary concern
- • You're already using Mistral AI's API ecosystem
Pros and Caveats at a Glance
Mistral Large 3
- • Input pricing: $0.50/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $1.50/M tokens
- • Context window: 256,000 tokens
- • Max output: 32,768 tokens
Watch out for
- • Higher input cost than Mistral Medium 3.1
Mistral Medium 3.1
- • Input pricing: $0.40/M tokens
- • Output pricing: $2.00/M tokens
- • Context window: 131,072 tokens
- • Max output: 16,384 tokens
Watch out for
- • Higher output cost than Mistral Large 3
- • Smaller context window than Mistral Large 3
Try Different Scenarios
Use the calculator below to see how costs change with different usage patterns
Mistral Large 3 (Mistral AI)
Mistral Medium 3.1 (Mistral AI)
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Which is cheaper, Mistral Large 3 or Mistral Medium 3.1?▼
What is the context window difference between Mistral Large 3 and Mistral Medium 3.1?▼
Which model is better for AI Agent / Agentic Workflows?▼
Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?▼
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