AI Media Generation Cost Calculator

Media Generation Cost

Multi-modal AI is expensive. Calculate costs for Images (DALL-E), Speech (TTS), and Transcription (Whisper).

Image Generation (DALL-E 3)

$0.040 / image
$0.080 / image

Audio Services

$0.015 / 1k chars
$0.006 / minute

How This Multi-Modal Tool Works

The AI Media Generation Cost Calculator consolidate the complex, non-token pricing models used for visual and auditory AI. As the industry moves toward "Agentic" workflows that create more than just text, understanding the unit economics of images and audio is critical for sustainable development.

Pricing Breakdown

  • DALL-E 3: Fixed pricing based on resolution (1024x1024) and quality tier.
  • Text-to-Speech (TTS): Calculated by character count (Standard: $0.015/k, HD: $0.030/k).
  • Whisper (STT): Calculated by the duration of the audio file in minutes.
Case Study: Automated Video Generation

You are building a tool that creates 1-minute social media clips.

- Images (5 DALL-E 3 Std): $0.20
- Voiceover (1,500 TTS Chars): $0.02
- Subtitles (Whisper 1 min): $0.01
- Total Unit Cost: $0.23 / video

By calculating per-unit costs, you can confidently price your subscription to ensure a 70%+ gross margin on every video produced.

Architect's Tip: For audio transcription, run a simple volume check before sending to Whisper. If the file is silent or contains no human speech, skip the API call to save 100% of the cost.

Media Generation FAQ

Why is HD voice double the price?

HD voices use the latest 'expressive' models which require significantly more compute power to generate natural-sounding intonation and emotion. Standard voices are better for utilitarian tasks like internal notifications.

Can I generate 4K images?

The current DALL-E 3 API maxes out at 1024x1024 or 1792x1024 (Wide). To get 4K results, developers typically use the API to generate the base image then run it through a separate "Super-Resolution" upscaler.

Is there a cost for failed generations?

Generally, no. Most reputable providers like OpenAI only bill for successful HTTP 200 responses. If the safety filter triggers and blocks an image, you are typically not charged.