Codestral vs Grok 3 Mini
Detailed pricing comparison and cost analysis.
Updated September 2026
Cost Simulator
| Feature | Codestral | Grok 3 Mini |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Mistral | xAI |
| Input Price (1M) | $0.30 | $0.30 |
| Output Price (1M) | $0.90 | $0.50 |
| Context Window | 256,000 | 131,000 |
Verdict
Codestral costs $0.30 per 1M input tokens and $0.90 per 1M output tokens. Grok 3 Mini costs $0.30 per 1M input tokens and $0.50 per 1M output tokens. Codestral and Grok 3 Mini have identical input token pricing. For output tokens, Grok 3 Mini is the more affordable option at $0.50/1M vs $0.90.
On context window, Codestral supports 256,000 tokens — meaning it can fit more conversation history, documents, or code in a single request. This matters for RAG pipelines, long document analysis, and agentic workflows where context builds up over many turns.
When to choose Codestral
- ✓ You need a larger context window (256,000 tokens)
- ✓ You are already integrated with Mistral
When to choose Grok 3 Mini
- ✓ Your workload is output-heavy — Grok 3 Mini generates text cheaper
- ✓ You are already integrated with xAI
Use the calculator above to simulate your specific workload and find the exact break-even point. For most applications, the cheapest model is the one that minimises your total monthly bill given your input-to-output token ratio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Codestral cheaper than Grok 3 Mini? ▼
Codestral and Grok 3 Mini have identical input token pricing at $0.30/1M tokens.
What is the context window of Codestral vs Grok 3 Mini? ▼
Codestral has a 256,000-token context window. Grok 3 Mini has a 131,000-token context window. Codestral supports the larger context, suitable for longer documents and agentic workflows.
Which model is better: Codestral or Grok 3 Mini? ▼
The best choice depends on your use case. For cost efficiency on input tokens, Codestral is the cheaper option. For maximum context length, Codestral supports 256,000 tokens. Use the comparison table above to find the right fit for your workload.