About the AI vs Human ROI Calculator
The AI vs Human ROI Calculator helps you assess whether using an AI language model is more cost-effective than a human for a given repeatable task. It compares the fully loaded human labour cost against the combined AI cost (API usage + optional subscription), using live model pricing from OpenRouter.
The ROI Formula
Human Monthly Cost = Hourly Wage × Hours per Task × Tasks per Month
AI Monthly Cost = Monthly Subscription + (API Cost per Task × Tasks per Month)
Where: API Cost per Task = (Input Tokens × Input Price) + (Output Tokens × Output Price)
Monthly Savings = Human Cost − AI Cost
ROI = (Monthly Savings ÷ AI Monthly Cost) × 100
What Is the Productivity Multiplier?
The productivity multiplier shows how many times faster AI completes the task compared to a human. If a human takes 60 minutes and the AI takes 2 minutes, the multiplier is 30×. A high multiplier means AI frees up significant staff time even when the cost saving is modest — time that can be redirected to higher-value work.
Break-Even Point
The break-even is the number of tasks per month at which the AI cost equals the human cost. If you have a fixed monthly subscription, you need to complete at least this many tasks per month for AI to be cheaper overall. Above the break-even, AI saves money at scale; below it, the subscription overhead means the human may be cheaper.
Using Fully Loaded Costs
For the most accurate comparison, enter the fully loaded hourly cost of the human worker — not just their take-home wage. This includes employer payroll taxes, national insurance/social security, benefits, equipment, software licences, office overhead, and management time. The fully loaded cost of an employee is typically 1.3–1.5× their gross salary.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the human cost calculated? Human cost = Hourly Wage × Hours per Task × Tasks per Month. For accuracy, use the fully loaded cost (salary + employer taxes + benefits + overhead), which is typically 1.3–1.5× the gross wage.
How is the AI cost calculated? AI cost = Monthly Subscription + (API Cost per Task × Tasks per Month). API cost per task is computed from the selected model's input and output token prices (fetched live from OpenRouter) multiplied by your estimated tokens per task.
What is the productivity multiplier? It shows how many times faster AI completes the task versus a human. Human Hours per Task ÷ (AI Minutes per Task ÷ 60). This helps quantify time savings even when the cost difference is small.
What is the break-even point? The minimum tasks per month needed for AI to be cheaper than human labour. Calculated as Monthly Subscription ÷ (Human Cost per Task − AI API Cost per Task). If AI has no subscription, the break-even is 0.
Should I include employer overheads in the hourly wage? Yes — for a realistic comparison, include employer taxes, benefits, and overhead. These typically add 30–50% to the gross wage. A $30/hr gross wage might have a fully loaded cost of $42–45/hr.
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