GPT-5 vs GPT-5.4
Complete pricing and performance comparison between OpenAI's GPT-5 and OpenAI's GPT-5.4.
Quick Verdict
Cheaper
GPT-5
2.0x cheaper input, 1.5x cheaper output
Larger Context
GPT-5.4
1.1M vs 400K
Higher Quality
GPT-5.4
Score: 57 vs 45
Faster
GPT-5.4
75 vs 60 tok/s
Pricing Comparison
| Spec | GPT-5 | GPT-5.4 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | OpenAI | |
| Input / 1M tokens | $1.25 | $2.5 | GPT-5 is 50% more expensive |
| Output / 1M tokens | $10 | $15 | GPT-5 is 33% more expensive |
| Context Window | 400K | 1.1M | 3x difference |
| Max Output | 16K | 128K |
Performance Benchmarks
| Metric | GPT-5 | GPT-5.4 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Index | 45 | 57 | GPT-5.4 |
| Output Speed | 60 tok/s | 75 tok/s | GPT-5.4 |
| Time to First Token | 117.69s | 169.23s | GPT-5 |
| Value (Quality/$) | 35.7 | 22.8 | Higher = better value |
Benchmark data from Artificial Analysis. Quality Index is a composite score across reasoning, coding, and knowledge tasks.
Cost at Scale
Estimated cost at different usage levels (3:1 input-to-output token ratio, typical for chat).
| Usage | GPT-5 | GPT-5.4 | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
Single request 1K in / 300 out | $0.0042 | $0.0070 | GPT-5 saves $0.0027 |
10 requests 10K in / 3K out | $0.042 | $0.070 | GPT-5 saves $0.028 |
100 requests 100K in / 30K out | $0.425 | $0.700 | GPT-5 saves $0.275 |
1,000 requests 1M in / 300K out | $4.25 | $7.00 | GPT-5 saves $2.75 |
10,000 requests 10M in / 3M out | $42.50 | $70.00 | GPT-5 saves $27.50 |
1M requests/mo 1B in / 300M out | $4250.00 | $7000.00 | GPT-5 saves $2750.00 |
Pros & Cons
GPT-5 Strengths
- +Cheaper input tokens
- +Cheaper output tokens
- +Lower latency (faster first token)
GPT-5.4 Strengths
- +Larger context window (1.1M vs 400K)
- +Higher max output tokens
- +Faster output (75 vs 60 tok/s)
- +Higher quality score (57 vs 45)
When to Use Each Model
Choose GPT-5 for
- →Budget-conscious projects where cost is the primary factor
Choose GPT-5.4 for
- →Long documents, large codebases, or multi-turn conversations
- →Generating long-form content or detailed code
- →Tasks requiring maximum accuracy and reasoning
- →Real-time applications, chat, or autocomplete
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GPT-5 or GPT-5.4?
For input tokens, GPT-5 is 2.0x cheaper at $1.25/1M tokens. For output tokens, GPT-5 is 1.5x cheaper at $10/1M tokens. At typical usage (1M input + 300K output), GPT-5 costs $4.25 vs GPT-5.4 at $7.00.
What's the context window difference?
GPT-5 supports 400K context (400,000 tokens), while GPT-5.4 supports 1.1M (1,050,000 tokens). GPT-5.4 can handle 3x more context in a single request.
Which model has better benchmarks?
Quality Index: GPT-5 scores 45 vs GPT-5.4 at 57. Speed: GPT-5 generates 60 tok/s vs GPT-5.4 at 75 tok/s. Time to first token: GPT-5 at 117.69s vs GPT-5.4 at 169.23s.
When should I choose GPT-5 over GPT-5.4?
Choose GPT-5 when you need: Cheaper input tokens, Cheaper output tokens, Lower latency (faster first token). Choose GPT-5.4 when you need: Larger context window (1.1M vs 400K), Higher max output tokens, Faster output (75 vs 60 tok/s), Higher quality score (57 vs 45).
How much would 10,000 API requests cost?
At 1K input + 300 output tokens per request (typical chat): GPT-5 = $42.50, GPT-5.4 = $70.00. At 10K input + 1K output per request (longer conversations): GPT-5 = $225.00, GPT-5.4 = $400.00.