GPT Audio Mini is $0.65 cheaper per 1M input tokens (52% lower; 2.08x difference).
API cost decision in 10 seconds
GPT Audio Mini vs GPT-5.1-Codex
Pick GPT Audio Mini for lower cost; pick GPT-5.1-Codex 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 GPT Audio Mini for lower cost; pick GPT-5.1-Codex only if the larger context window matters more.
On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, GPT Audio Mini is estimated at $1.8 vs $6.25 for GPT-5.1-Codex, saving $4.45 (71.2% lower).
Cost-first pickGPT Audio Mini
Context-first pickGPT-5.1-Codex
Sample savings$4.4571.2%
10x traffic gap$44.5
GPT-5.1-Codex has more context, but GPT Audio Mini saves $4.45 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $44.5. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.
Cost sensitivity
Workload Sensitivity
GPT Audio Mini stays cheaper across input-heavy, balanced, and output-heavy sample workloads.
| Workload shape | Token mix | Better pick | GPT Audio Mini | GPT-5.1-Codex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Input-heavy / RAG | 5M input + 500K output | GPT Audio Mini | $4.2 | $11.25 |
| Balanced workload | 1M input + 1M output | GPT Audio Mini | $3 | $11.25 |
| Output-heavy chatbot | 1M input + 5M output | GPT Audio Mini | $12.6 | $51.25 |
GPT Audio Mini is $7.6 cheaper per 1M output tokens (76% lower; 4.17x difference).
GPT-5.1-Codex has 272K more context (3.12x larger).
GPT Audio Mini is $4.45 cheaper on the standard workload (71.2% 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
GPT Audio Mini has the lower input price; GPT Audio Mini has the lower output price; GPT-5.1-Codex offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, GPT Audio Mini is cheaper for the standard workload.
For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $1.8 for GPT Audio Mini and $6.25 for GPT-5.1-Codex.
Choose GPT Audio Mini when you care most about lower input-token price, and lower output-token price.
Choose GPT-5.1-Codex when you care most about larger context window.
- On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, GPT Audio Mini is estimated at $1.8 vs $6.25 for GPT-5.1-Codex, saving $4.45 (71.2% lower).
- GPT Audio Mini is $4.45 cheaper on the standard workload (71.2% lower).
- GPT Audio Mini is $0.65 cheaper per 1M input tokens (52% lower; 2.08x difference).
- GPT Audio Mini is $7.6 cheaper per 1M output tokens (76% lower; 4.17x difference).
- GPT-5.1-Codex has 272K more context (3.12x larger).
| Feature | GPT Audio Mini (OpenAI) | GPT-5.1-Codex (OpenAI) |
|---|---|---|
| Input Price prompt tokens per 1M | $0.6 | $1.25 |
| Completion Price per 1M tokens | $2.4 | $10 |
| Sample Workload Cost 1M input + 500K output | $1.8 | $6.25 |
| Context Window | 128K | 400K |
| Release Date |
Use-Case Decision Matrix
| Use case | Better pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Budget-constrained production | GPT Audio Mini | On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, GPT Audio Mini is estimated at $1.8 vs $6.25 for GPT-5.1-Codex, saving $4.45 (71.2% lower). |
| High-volume input processing | GPT Audio Mini | Lower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill. |
| Long responses and chatbots | GPT Audio Mini | Lower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens. |
| RAG or long-document work | GPT-5.1-Codex | A larger context window leaves more room for retrieved passages, conversation history, or source files. |
Related Alternatives
- gpt-oss-120b (free) can replace GPT Audio Mini when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
- gpt-oss-20b (free) can replace GPT Audio Mini when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
- gpt-oss-20b can replace GPT Audio Mini when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.1.
- gpt-oss-120b can replace GPT Audio Mini when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.13.
- Llama 4 Scout offers 10M context with $0.23 sample workload cost.
- Grok 4.20 Multi-Agent offers 2M context with $5 sample workload cost.
- Grok 4.20 offers 2M context with $2.5 sample workload cost.
- Owl Alpha offers 1.05M context with $0 sample workload cost.
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