Local LLM vs API monthly cost calculator
Compare local LLM and API monthly costs using hardware amortization, electricity, operations, token usage and same-currency rates. Free local calculation, no model call or assumed savings.
Compare local vs API costs ↓Local deployment vs API monthly cost calculator
Compare hardware amortization, electricity, operations and usage charges in one currency. Free calculation in your browser, without an account or model call; your usage and amounts are not uploaded.
Local fixed cost = included hardware cost ÷ months + average W × monthly hours × electricity price ÷ 1000 + operations + other monthly fees. Crossover holds usage mix, rates and fixed costs constant; capacity, throughput, quality, reliability and data paths are unverified. Include omitted upgrades, tax and financing separately. A numerical difference is not actual savings or a purchase commitment.
Cost scope and comparison conditions
- Free local software is not zero total cost. Enter hardware cost, amortization, measured average power, running hours, electricity and labor. Zero means excluded from this estimate.
- API input and output tokens use separate rates, plus separately entered API platform, network or labor costs. Local variable fees apply to total tokens. All amounts share one currency; switching currency clears amounts without applying FX.
- Crossover is mathematical, holding fixed costs, usage mix and rates constant. Validate capacity, concurrency, latency, task quality and reliability separately; existing hardware cannot be extrapolated indefinitely.
- A local endpoint or offline-inference description does not establish zero outbound traffic for the whole system. Check model sources, cloud features, plugins, clients and network boundaries. A difference is not actual savings, compliance or a quote.
For estimates with your monthly token volume, go to Model Advisor. Official vendor prices are authoritative; on-site figures are estimates only.
FAQ
Is a local model always cheaper than an API?
No. Hardware, electricity, labor and actual usage change the result. Compare equivalent task quality and throughput; this calculator does not measure quality or hardware capacity.
How is crossover estimated?
Keep the current input/output mix and divide the difference in fixed monthly costs by the per-token difference between API and local usage charges, rounded up to total tokens. Equal unit costs or a negative intersection give no unique nonnegative crossover; zero usage does not establish a mix.
Are inputs uploaded, charged or automatically converted?
Calculation inputs and results are not uploaded; no model call or charge is made. Enter every cost in one currency. Switching currencies clears amounts and rates; synthetic examples are not vendor prices.