2026-07-10
AI Tokenomics: what tokens actually cost
The foundation: what tokens are, input vs output pricing, cached tokens, long context, and why agents multiply everything.
LEARN / THE SERIOUS PART
AI costs, explained
The editorial side of the TokenBurn Index: how AI billing actually works, where the money goes, and which optimizations are real. Everything here follows the house rules — numbers you can check, assumptions stated, no environmental salvation promised.
2026-07-10
How much does ChatGPT actually cost per prompt?
Subscription math vs API pricing, the conversation-history multiplier nobody budgets, and when each way of paying wins.
2026-07-10
Prompt caching: the 90% discount most teams never claim
How cached input tokens cut LLM bills by up to ~90%, the write-premium fine print, and the silent mistakes that break your cache.
2026-07-10
Why your AI agent costs 10–40x more than a chat
The anatomy of agent costs: iteration loops, re-sent context and invisible reasoning — with worked numbers and the levers that reduce the bill.
Reading is cheap. Measuring is free. Paste your prompt into the Burnmeter and see what your AI habits actually cost.
MEASURE MY BURN →