Llama Guard 3.8 B vs Meta Llama 3.1.8 B Instruct: cost comparison
Prices updated 2026-10-27 · computed from live provider data
Short answer: Meta Llama 3.1.8 B Instruct is cheaper on a
3:1 input/output blend — $0.030 per million tokens versus
$0.030, a 0% difference.
Both offer the same 128,000-token context window, so cost is the deciding factor.
Head to head
| Llama Guard 3.8 B | Meta Llama 3.1.8 B Instruct | |
|---|---|---|
| Input, per 1M tokens | $0.020 | $0.020 |
| Output, per 1M tokens | $0.060 | $0.060 |
| Blended 3:1, per 1M | $0.030 | $0.030 |
| Context window | 128,000 | 128,000 |
| Vendor | nebius | nebius |
Monthly cost at real volumes
| Workload (input / output) | Llama Guard 3.8 B | Meta Llama 3.1.8 B Instruct |
|---|---|---|
| 1M in / 250K out | $0.035 | $0.035 |
| 10M in / 2.5M out | $0.350 | $0.350 |
| 100M in / 25M out | $3.50 | $3.50 |
Which should you pick?
Because the context windows are identical, the cheaper option is the better default. Choose Meta Llama 3.1.8 B Instruct unless you are already standardised on nebius tooling and want to avoid a second integration.