Self-hosting vs API: how to calculate the real cost of a solved task in the era of open models
The article argues that comparing self-hosting and API based on per-token prices is misleading. It proposes using blended API prices and total cost of ownership for self-hosting, with a break-even volume dependent on utilization. For solved tasks, it introduces a cost-per-task metric incorporating model solve rates and token budgets, highlighting that cheap API often beats self-hosting for the same model due to provider scale.
Moonshot AI
DeepSeek
Anthropic

