Moondream 3.1 is $0.38 cheaper per 1M input tokens (55.9% lower; 2.27x difference).
API cost decision in 10 seconds
NewMoondream 3.1 vs NewMistral Large 4
Pick Moondream 3.1 for lower cost; pick Mistral Large 4 only if the larger context window matters more.
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Data confirmed:
Prices normalized to USD per 1M tokens
Sample workload: 1M input + 500K output
Budget verdict
Pick Moondream 3.1 for lower cost; pick Mistral Large 4 only if the larger context window matters more.
On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Moondream 3.1 is estimated at $1.55 vs $1.73 for Mistral Large 4, saving $0.18 (10.1% lower).
Cost-first pickMoondream 3.1
Context-first pickMistral Large 4
Sample savings$0.1810.1%
10x traffic gap$1.75
Mistral Large 4 has more context, but Moondream 3.1 saves $0.18 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $1.75. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.
Cost sensitivity
Workload Sensitivity
Cost winner changes by workload shape: input-heavy / RAG favors Moondream 3.1, balanced workload favors Mistral Large 4, and output-heavy chatbot favors Mistral Large 4.
| Workload shape | Token mix | Better pick | Moondream 3.1 | Mistral Large 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Input-heavy / RAG | 5M input + 500K output | Moondream 3.1 | $2.75 | $4.45 |
| Balanced workload | 1M input + 1M output | Mistral Large 4 | $2.8 | $2.77 |
| Output-heavy chatbot | 1M input + 5M output | Mistral Large 4 | $12.8 | $11.13 |
Mistral Large 4 is $0.41 cheaper per 1M output tokens (16.4% lower; 1.2x difference).
Mistral Large 4 has 1.02M more context (32.8x larger).
Moondream 3.1 is $0.18 cheaper on the standard workload (10.1% lower).
Estimate your workload cost
Your Workload Cost
This estimate uses normalized public API pricing per 1M tokens. It is a planning aid, not a billing quote. Verify provider pricing, limits, and terms before production use.
Quick Decision
Moondream 3.1 has the lower input price; Mistral Large 4 has the lower output price; Mistral Large 4 offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, Moondream 3.1 is cheaper for the standard workload.
For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $1.55 for Moondream 3.1 and $1.73 for Mistral Large 4.
Choose Moondream 3.1 when you care most about lower input-token price.
Choose Mistral Large 4 when you care most about lower output-token price, and larger context window.
- On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Moondream 3.1 is estimated at $1.55 vs $1.73 for Mistral Large 4, saving $0.18 (10.1% lower).
- Moondream 3.1 is $0.18 cheaper on the standard workload (10.1% lower).
- Moondream 3.1 is $0.38 cheaper per 1M input tokens (55.9% lower; 2.27x difference).
- Mistral Large 4 is $0.41 cheaper per 1M output tokens (16.4% lower; 1.2x difference).
- Mistral Large 4 has 1.02M more context (32.8x larger).
| Feature | NewMoondream 3.1 (Moondream) | NewMistral Large 4 (Mistral) |
|---|---|---|
| Input Price prompt tokens per 1M | $0.3 | $0.68 |
| Completion Price per 1M tokens | $2.5 | $2.09 |
| Sample Workload Cost 1M input + 500K output | $1.55 | $1.73 |
| Context Window | 32K | 1.05M |
| Release Date |
Use-Case Decision Matrix
| Use case | Better pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget-constrained production | Moondream 3.1 | On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Moondream 3.1 is estimated at $1.55 vs $1.73 for Mistral Large 4, saving $0.18 (10.1% lower). |
| High-volume input processing | Moondream 3.1 | Lower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill. |
| Long responses and chatbots | Mistral Large 4 | Lower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens. |
| RAG or long-document work | Mistral Large 4 | A larger context window leaves more room for retrieved passages, conversation history, or source files. |
Related Alternatives
- Mistral Nemo can replace Mistral Large 4 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.04.
- Mistral Small 3 can replace Mistral Large 4 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.09.
- Ministral 3 8B 2512 (batch) can replace Mistral Large 4 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.11.
- Ministral 3 3B 2512 can replace Mistral Large 4 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.15.
- Llama 4 Scout offers 1.31M context with $0.47 sample workload cost.
- MiMo-V2.6-Flash offers 1.05M context with $0.28 sample workload cost.
- GPT-6 Luna offers 1.05M context with $0.35 sample workload cost.
- GPT-6 Luna Pro offers 1.05M context with $0.35 sample workload cost.
- DeepSeek V4.1 Flash · DeepSeek · #1
- Step 5 Preview · StepFun · #2
- GLM 5.3 Flash · Z.ai · #3
- MiMo-V2.6-Flash · Xiaomi · #4
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