Input vs Output vs Reasoning Tokens Cost - LLM Pricing Explained

If you have ever checked the pricing page for OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google and wondered why there are three different token prices listed, you are not alone. The distinction between input tokens, output tokens, and reasoning tokens is one of the most misunderstood aspects of LLM pricing - and getting it wrong can mean overspending by 5-10x on your AI workloads. This guide breaks down exactly what each token type is, why they cost different amounts, and how to optimize your spending - whether yo...