How much does an AI research assistant cost per report?
Figuring out how to estimate an AI research assistant's cost per report is one of the first budgeting questions AI teams hit. Built for teams building research or analyst agents, this tool skips the generic rate card and gives you a working estimate you can tune to your traffic. The result reacts live as you adjust the inputs.
Start here: AI Agent Cost Calculator
Results update automatically as you type.
- LLM cost / run
- $0.0337
- Tool cost / run
- $0.0000
- Per run
- $0.0337
- Per month
- $506.25
Then: Tool Call Cost Calculator
Results update automatically as you type.
- Tool calls / run
- 5
- Cost per run
- $0.0125
- Cost per month
- $375.00
Why this isn't trivial
The part people underestimate: research agents loop through many search-and-read steps, each adding tool calls and growing context. In practice the biggest savings come from limiting search depth and summarizing sources before reasoning over them, so it is worth modelling before you commit.
How it's calculated
We estimate this by summing multi-step agent token cost with per-tool-call search fees across a typical report. Every figure uses the current provider prices baked into the site (reviewed daily), and you can override any input to match your own assumptions.
Frequently asked questions
Why can a single report be pricey?+
Deep research loops accumulate large context and many tool calls per report.
How do I control the cost?+
Cap iterations and compress retrieved sources before the writing step.
Are these prices up to date?+
Yes. The model prices behind this calculator are refreshed and reviewed daily, so your estimate reflects current provider rates rather than a stale snapshot.
Related
Estimates for planning. Pricing data last reviewed 28 July 2026.