IMAGE + VIDEO API COST GUARD

Do not force every model price into a token field.

Model per-image output, per-second video, input-image fees, and separate billable overhead before a request reaches the provider. The calculator runs locally in your browser.

13 OpenAI and xAI output tiers · verified 2026-08-23 · USD · no usage upload

Set a media budget Compare token rates

PER-UNIT WORKLOAD

Price the unit the provider actually bills.

Choose the exact output tier, enter request volume and media units, then reserve any token or tool overhead separately. The result is a planning estimate, not an invoice.

Provider, model, and output tierRequests / monthImages output / requestInput images / requestOther billable cost / request (USD)Monthly hard budget (USD)

Use “other billable cost” for token-priced prompts, image-token inputs, tool calls, audio, or another category this per-unit card does not represent.

MODELED MEDIA SPEND · xAI

grok-imagine-image-2.0$0.04 per output image · $0.01 per input imageImage 2.0 · 1K low · verified 2026-08-23

Estimated monthly total$40.00$10.00 budget headroom

Output images: $40.00
Input images: $0.00
Other entered cost: $0.00
Safe whole images / request: 1

This scenario remains inside the entered hard budget. The safe-unit figure reserves the input-image and other entered costs first, then floors the remaining output allowance.

Image edits also bill each input image. Text input is not included in this per-unit estimate.

Official xAI model pricing ↗

ENFORCEMENT, NOT JUST ESTIMATIONReject the request before the provider call when its worst-case cost exceeds the remaining budget.

Then reconcile the provider-reported usage or invoice after the call. A catalogue estimate should never silently become the billing authority.

See the fixed £75 implementation scope Read the budget-guard pattern

PORTABLE COST RECORD

Keep the dimension beside the amount.

A flat number is ambiguous without its billing unit, resolution or quality tier, effective date, and source.

Unit

Record whether the amount applies to an image, output second, input image, token, minute, character, or tool call.

Tier

Keep resolution, quality, region, and model version as explicit dimensions instead of hiding them in a label.

Authority

Store the dated source and reconcile provider-reported usage after execution. Missing catalogue data must fail closed for a hard dollar cap.