How LLM API Pricing Works

Tokens, input vs output, context windows — why the same task can cost 50× more on one model than another, explained simply.

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GPT-5 vs DeepSeek R1: price comparison

Real 2026 API prices side by side, with the total cost of a typical 10M-input / 3M-output monthly workload.

Price & cost at a glance

GPT-5DeepSeek R1
Input / 1M tokens$1.25$0.7
Output / 1M tokens$10$2.5
Context window400K128K
Cost — 10M in + 3M out$42.5$14.5

Green = cheaper / larger. Prices per 1M tokens, USD. Snapshot 2026 — verify with the provider.

Which is cheaper?

DeepSeek R1 is the cheaper option on a 10M-in / 3M-out workload — about $14.5/mo versus $42.5 for GPT-5 (~2.9× difference). Because output tokens are billed higher, the model with the lower output price usually wins as your responses get longer.

Run your own token mix in the cost calculator, or see each model in depth: GPT-5 · DeepSeek R1.

Frequently asked

Is GPT-5 or DeepSeek R1 cheaper?

At a typical 10M input + 3M output tokens per month, DeepSeek R1 costs about $14.5 versus $42.5 for GPT-5 — DeepSeek R1 is roughly 2.9x cheaper on this workload. Your ratio of input to output tokens changes the gap.

What's the price difference between GPT-5 and DeepSeek R1?

GPT-5 is $1.25/$10 per 1M input/output tokens; DeepSeek R1 is $0.7/$2.5. Output tokens usually dominate a bill, so compare the output price first.

Which has the bigger context window, GPT-5 or DeepSeek R1?

GPT-5 supports about 400K tokens and DeepSeek R1 about 128K. A bigger window costs more per call because every token in context is billed.

Related comparisons

GPT-5 vs Claude Opus 4.8GPT-5 vs Gemini 3.1 ProGPT-5 vs Grok 4GPT-5.5 vs GPT-5o3 vs DeepSeek R1All 387 models →

Educational estimates — not affiliated with any provider.