Your goal: compare the same kind of cost
Reported charge is a supplied billing amount. API-equivalent value prices native counts at specified public rates, even for subscription calls. Subscription spending includes the subscription payment and actual paid overflow. These are different measurements.
The public subscription-multiplier study relates API list-price value to allowance-meter changes. Workload, account, timing and uncertainty matter. A derived monthly projection is not a contractual token grant.
Three checks before using a study
- Match the exact model and price denominator. Standard and contributor rates can produce very different multipliers.
- Check per-request versus cumulative counts. The CLI cost study explains differencing cumulative counters and separating cold/warm cache behavior.
- Keep measurements, extrapolations and uncertainty separate. Do not turn prompt allowances or meter percentages into fixed tokens without a documented debit rule.
The calculator currently supports OpenRouter text projections and reported OpenRouter charges. Arbitrary CLI logs and subscription entitlements need separately verified adapters and terms.
Sources and further reading
These explanations describe Examenos's data and display policy. Calculator examples are explicitly hypothetical. Inspect dated endpoint evidence and the formulas; projections do not authenticate a bill.