Mistral Large 3 vs Mistral Medium 3.5
Mistral Large 3 vs Mistral Medium 3.5: Mistral Large 3 is cheaper for input-heavy usage ($0.50/M vs $1.50/M input tokens), while Mistral Large 3 is better for long-context tasks (256,000 tokens).
Direct answer: choose Mistral Large 3 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 3.5
Cost Differences
Mistral Medium 3.5 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 $12.00/month ($146.00/year) versus Mistral Medium 3.5.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Mistral Large 3 | Mistral Medium 3.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Mistral AI | Mistral AI |
| Input Price | $0.50/1M tokens | $1.50/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $1.50/1M tokens | $7.50/1M tokens |
| Context Window | 256,000 tokens | 256,000 tokens |
| Max Output | 32,768 tokens | 32,768 tokens |
| Category | flagship | flagship |
| Capabilities | textcodereasoning | textvisioncodereasoning |
| Release Date | 12/2/2025 | 4/29/2026 |
Mistral Large 3 vs Mistral Medium 3.5: Which Should You Choose?
Choosing between Mistral Large 3 and Mistral Medium 3.5 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 — 67% cheaper than Mistral Medium 3.5.
Both models are in the flagship category, making this a direct head-to-head comparison. At scale — say 10,000 requests per day — the cost difference adds up: Mistral Large 3 would save you roughly $1,200.00/month compared to Mistral Medium 3.5. For startups and indie developers, that difference can be significant.
Output costs matter too. Mistral Large 3 charges $1.50/1M 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. Mistral Large 3 has the edge here at $1.50/1M output tokens.
Multimodal capabilities: Mistral Medium 3.5 supports vision (image inputs) while Mistral Large 3 is text-only. If your application needs image understanding, this narrows your choice.
Best Use Cases
Choose Mistral Large 3 when:
- • Budget is a primary concern
- • You're already using Mistral AI's API ecosystem
Choose Mistral Medium 3.5 when:
- • You need more capabilities (vision)
- • 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
- • Trade-offs are minor in this matchup.
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 Mistral Large 3
- • Higher output cost 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 3.5 (Mistral AI)
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Which is cheaper, Mistral Large 3 or Mistral Medium 3.5?▼
What is the context window difference between Mistral Large 3 and Mistral Medium 3.5?▼
Which model is better for AI Agent / Agentic Workflows?▼
Which model has better overall pricing for heavy usage?▼
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