Model comparison · Updated 17 Aug 2026

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct vs Mistral Small 3

Q: Is Llama 3.2 1B Instruct better than Mistral Small 3?

We do not benchmark quality, so we cannot say. On the recorded numbers: Llama 3.2 1B Instruct is about 1.9× cheaper on input ($0.03 against $0.05 per 1M tokens), though Mistral Small 3 is cheaper on output. Llama 3.2 1B Instruct has the larger context window (60K against 33K tokens). For a support chatbot at 10,000 chats a day, the standard-tier bill is about $30.24 a month for Llama 3.2 1B Instruct and $29.70 for Mistral Small 3. Which is better for you depends on your task; test both on your own prompts.

Q: Which is cheaper, Llama 3.2 1B Instruct or Mistral Small 3?

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct: $0.03 against $0.05 per 1M input tokens, and $0.20 against $0.08 per 1M output, on standard pricing.

Q: How much does each cost per 1M tokens?

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct: $0.03 input and $0.20 output. Mistral Small 3: $0.05 input and $0.08 output. Standard tier, USD.

Q: Which has the larger context window?

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct, with 60,000 tokens. Mistral Small 3 has 32,768 tokens.

Q: Do both offer batch pricing?

Neither lists a batch tier in our catalogue.

Q: Can both read images or audio?

Input types recorded for Llama 3.2 1B Instruct: none recorded. For Mistral Small 3: none recorded. Where a record lists none we say so rather than guess; check each vendor's documentation before relying on a capability.

Q: Is either model open-weight?

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct: not marked open-weight in our records. Mistral Small 3: not marked open-weight in our records.

Q: What would each cost for a support chatbot?

At 10,000 chats a day, 1,500 input and 300 output tokens each, 30 days, standard tier: about $30.24 a month for Llama 3.2 1B Instruct and $29.70 for Mistral Small 3. This is our calculation from the listed prices, not a quote.

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct is about 1.9× cheaper on input ($0.03 against $0.05 per 1M tokens), though Mistral Small 3 is cheaper on output. Llama 3.2 1B Instruct has the larger context window (60K against 33K tokens). For a support chatbot at 10,000 chats a day, the standard-tier bill is about $30.24 a month for Llama 3.2 1B Instruct and $29.70 for Mistral Small 3.

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Cite this page

ModelsAtlas. “Llama 3.2 1B Instruct vs Mistral Small 3”. Retrieved 17 Aug 2026. https://modelsatlas.com/compare/meta/llama-3-2-1b-instruct/vs/mistralai/mistral-small-24b-instruct

Model A

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct

by Meta · weights not marked open · GRIDB2

Input / 1M
$0.03
observed We measured
Source
Our catalogue
Retrieved
17 Aug 2026

Output / 1M$0.20

Context60K

Model B

Mistral Small 3

by Mistral AI · weights not marked open · GRIDB2

Input / 1M
$0.05
observed We measured
Source
Our catalogue
Retrieved
17 Aug 2026

Output / 1M$0.08

Context33K

Key numbers

Standard tier · highlighted = better

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct

Mistral Small 3

Input / 1M tokens

$0.03

$0.05

Output / 1M tokens

$0.20

$0.08

Batch input / output

Not listed

Context window

60,000

32,768

Input types

Not disclosed

Weights

Not marked open

Tiers listed

standard

Prices checked

2026-08-17

What it costs for real workloads

Monthly, standard tier, 30 days

Support chatbot10k chats/day · 1.5k in, 300 out

$30.24/mo

$29.70/mo

RAG over documents2k queries/day · 12k in, 500 out

$25.47/mo

$38.40/mo

Coding agent300 tasks/day · 60k in, 8k out

$29.05/mo

$32.76/mo

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct Mistral Small 3 · Derived from the standard-tier prices above, input and output tokens per request as stated, 30 days. Excludes caching discounts and batch. Try your own numbers.

On the atlas

Price band (A–H) × context band (1–6)

Same square. Llama 3.2 1B Instruct and Mistral Small 3 share B2.

Same square as Llama 3.2 1B Instruct: Command R7B (12-2024) ($0.04). Open B2

Llama 3.2 1B InstructMistral Small 3Nearest neighboursOpen weights

View the map as a table (2 squares)

Square	Price band	Context band	Models
GRIDB2	<$0.10	32–128K	Llama 3.2 1B Instruct, Mistral Small 3, Command R7B (12-2024)
GRIDB3	<$0.10	128–256K	Mistral Nemo, gpt-oss-120b, gpt-oss-20b, Gemma 3 12B, Gemma 3 4B, Llama 3.1 8B Instruct, Llama 3.2 3B Instruct

Capabilities side by side

Only what our records list

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct

Mistral Small 3

Vision input

Not disclosed

Audio input

Not disclosed

Open weights

Not marked open

Batch tier

Not listed

Free tier

Not listed

Thinking tier

Not listed

Neither record lists input types, so we do not claim any.

Which should you choose?

Editorial

Choose Llama 3.2 1B Instruct if…

you pay by the token: it costs $0.03 per 1M input against $0.05
your prompts are long: it takes 60,000 tokens against 32,768

Choose Mistral Small 3 if…

output dominates your bill: $0.08 per 1M output against $0.20

Each reason is a fact from the tables above. Picking between them is our judgement, and we do not benchmark quality: price and context are what we can measure, so test both on your own prompts before you commit.

Questions

Is Llama 3.2 1B Instruct better than Mistral Small 3?

We do not benchmark quality, so we cannot say. On the recorded numbers: Llama 3.2 1B Instruct is about 1.9× cheaper on input ($0.03 against $0.05 per 1M tokens), though Mistral Small 3 is cheaper on output. Llama 3.2 1B Instruct has the larger context window (60K against 33K tokens). For a support chatbot at 10,000 chats a day, the standard-tier bill is about $30.24 a month for Llama 3.2 1B Instruct and $29.70 for Mistral Small 3. Which is better for you depends on your task; test both on your own prompts.

Which is cheaper, Llama 3.2 1B Instruct or Mistral Small 3?

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct: $0.03 against $0.05 per 1M input tokens, and $0.20 against $0.08 per 1M output, on standard pricing.

How much does each cost per 1M tokens?

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct: $0.03 input and $0.20 output. Mistral Small 3: $0.05 input and $0.08 output. Standard tier, USD.

Which has the larger context window?

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct, with 60,000 tokens. Mistral Small 3 has 32,768 tokens.

Do both offer batch pricing?

Neither lists a batch tier in our catalogue.

Can both read images or audio?

Input types recorded for Llama 3.2 1B Instruct: none recorded. For Mistral Small 3: none recorded. Where a record lists none we say so rather than guess; check each vendor's documentation before relying on a capability.

Is either model open-weight?

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct: not marked open-weight in our records. Mistral Small 3: not marked open-weight in our records.

What would each cost for a support chatbot?

At 10,000 chats a day, 1,500 input and 300 output tokens each, 30 days, standard tier: about $30.24 a month for Llama 3.2 1B Instruct and $29.70 for Mistral Small 3. This is our calculation from the listed prices, not a quote.

About the two models

Llama 3.2 1B Instruct

By Meta. $0.03 input and $0.20 output per 1M tokens, 60K context, atlas square B2. Tiers listed: standard.

Full specs & pricing →

Mistral Small 3

By Mistral AI. $0.05 input and $0.08 output per 1M tokens, 33K context, atlas square B2. Tiers listed: standard.

Full specs & pricing →

Compare Llama 3.2 1B Instruct with…

Compare Mistral Small 3 with…

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Is Llama 3.2 1B Instruct better than Mistral Small 3?
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Which is cheaper, Llama 3.2 1B Instruct or Mistral Small 3?
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How much does each cost per 1M tokens?
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