Laguna M.1 is $2.8 cheaper per 1M input tokens (93.3% lower; 15x difference).
API cost decision in 10 seconds
🔥Kimi K3 vs Laguna M.1
Pick Laguna M.1 for lower cost; pick Kimi K3 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 Laguna M.1 for lower cost; pick Kimi K3 only if the larger context window matters more.
On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Laguna M.1 is estimated at $0.4 vs $10.5 for Kimi K3, saving $10.1 (96.2% lower).
Cost-first pickLaguna M.1
Context-first pickKimi K3
Sample savings$10.196.2%
10x traffic gap$101
Kimi K3 has more context, but Laguna M.1 saves $10.1 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $101. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.
Cost sensitivity
Workload Sensitivity
Laguna M.1 stays cheaper across input-heavy, balanced, and output-heavy sample workloads.
| Workload shape | Token mix | Better pick | Kimi K3 | Laguna M.1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Input-heavy / RAG | 5M input + 500K output | Laguna M.1 | $22.5 | $1.2 |
| Balanced workload | 1M input + 1M output | Laguna M.1 | $18 | $0.6 |
| Output-heavy chatbot | 1M input + 5M output | Laguna M.1 | $78 | $2.2 |
Laguna M.1 is $14.6 cheaper per 1M output tokens (97.3% lower; 37.5x difference).
Kimi K3 has 786.43K more context (4x larger).
Laguna M.1 is $10.1 cheaper on the standard workload (96.2% 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
Laguna M.1 has the lower input price; Laguna M.1 has the lower output price; Kimi K3 offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, Laguna M.1 is cheaper for the standard workload.
For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $10.5 for Kimi K3 and $0.4 for Laguna M.1.
Choose Kimi K3 when you care most about larger context window.
Choose Laguna M.1 when you care most about lower input-token price, and lower output-token price.
- On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Laguna M.1 is estimated at $0.4 vs $10.5 for Kimi K3, saving $10.1 (96.2% lower).
- Laguna M.1 is $10.1 cheaper on the standard workload (96.2% lower).
- Laguna M.1 is $2.8 cheaper per 1M input tokens (93.3% lower; 15x difference).
- Laguna M.1 is $14.6 cheaper per 1M output tokens (97.3% lower; 37.5x difference).
- Kimi K3 has 786.43K more context (4x larger).
| Feature | 🔥Kimi K3 (MoonshotAI) | Laguna M.1 (Poolside) |
|---|---|---|
| Input Price prompt tokens per 1M | $3 | $0.2 |
| Completion Price per 1M tokens | $15 | $0.4 |
| Sample Workload Cost 1M input + 500K output | $10.5 | $0.4 |
| Context Window | 1.05M | 262.14K |
| Release Date | ||
| Popularity | #14 |
Use-Case Decision Matrix
| Use case | Better pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget-constrained production | Laguna M.1 | On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Laguna M.1 is estimated at $0.4 vs $10.5 for Kimi K3, saving $10.1 (96.2% lower). |
| High-volume input processing | Laguna M.1 | Lower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill. |
| Long responses and chatbots | Laguna M.1 | Lower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens. |
| RAG or long-document work | Kimi K3 | A larger context window leaves more room for retrieved passages, conversation history, or source files. |
Related Alternatives
- Kimi K2.7 Code (free) can replace Kimi K3 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
- Kimi K2.6 (free) can replace Kimi K3 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
- Kimi K2.5 can replace Kimi K3 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $1.57.
- Kimi K2 0711 can replace Kimi K3 when lower sample workload cost matters most: $1.72.
- Grok 4.20 Multi-Agent offers 2M context with $2.5 sample workload cost.
- Grok 4.20 offers 2M context with $2.5 sample workload cost.
- DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 offers 1.31M context with $0.17 sample workload cost.
- DeepSeek V4 Flash Latest offers 1.31M context with $0.11 sample workload cost.
- DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731 · DeepSeek · #1
- MiMo-V2.5 · Xiaomi · #2
- Hy3 · Tencent · #3
- Ox Alpha · stealth · #4
Cheaper alternatives
Review low-cost models sorted by a standard 1M input plus 500K output workload.
Open cheapest modelsLarger context alternatives
Find models with larger context windows for RAG, long documents, and codebase review.
Open largest context modelsProvider catalogs
Compare models within provider hubs before choosing a final API vendor.
Open provider hubsMoonshotAI catalog
Review all tracked MoonshotAI models before deciding whether this matchup is the right shortlist.
Open MoonshotAI modelsPoolside catalog
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