AI Development Costs – How Much Does Your AI Project Cost?

Calculate the costs for your AI project with our interactive calculator.

KI-Kostenrechner

Was kostet Ihr KI-Projekt?

Berechnen Sie die Kosten für Ihre KI-Lösung

Schritt 1 von 520%

Was möchten Sie umsetzen?

Tip: Is AI worth it for your business?

Our ROI calculator takes into account time savings, error reduction, and ongoing AI operating costs.

Calculate AI ROI

AI Development Pricing Overview

AI project costs vary widely – from simple API integration to custom ML models.

LLM Integration

€5,000 – 25,000 excl. VAT

Connect GPT-4, Claude, etc.
Prompt engineering
Simple chatbots
1–4 weeks development

Popular

AI Knowledge Base / RAG

€25,000 – 80,000 excl. VAT

Your documents as knowledge source
Intelligent Q&A systems
Enterprise chatbots
4–12 weeks development

Custom Machine Learning

€50,000 – 300,000+

Train custom ML models
Computer vision, NLP
Predictive analytics
3–12+ months development

LLM Integration: The Fastest Entry Point

With modern Large Language Models (LLMs) like GPT-4, Claude, or Gemini, you can bring AI features to your software within just a few weeks. Whether text generation, summarization, translation, or customer service – the APIs are powerful and well-documented.

The effort mainly lies in prompt engineering (asking the right question) and integration into your existing software. For many use cases, this is the most affordable path to AI.

RAG: Your Data + LLM = Real Knowledge

Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) combines LLMs with your own knowledge base. Instead of only answering based on general training, the AI accesses your documents, FAQs, and internal information.

This drastically reduces hallucinations (incorrect answers) and delivers reliable, verifiable information. Ideal for customer service, internal knowledge management, and sales support.

When to Choose Custom ML?

Training custom machine learning models is worthwhile for:

Specialized data: Images, sensor data, industry-specific texts
Data privacy: No data sent to external APIs
Domain expertise: Train models on your specialized terminology
Edge deployment: Run models locally/offline

Plan for Ongoing Costs

AI projects have significant ongoing costs:

API costs: GPT-4 costs approx. $0.01–0.03/1K tokens – with high volume quickly €500–2,000/month excl. VAT
Infrastructure: Vector databases, GPU compute, hosting: €200–2,000/month excl. VAT
Maintenance: Prompt optimization, model updates, monitoring: €500–2,000/month excl. VAT

AI for Your Business

Intelligent Automation

AI takes over complex tasks that previously required human intelligence.

Data Insights

Identify patterns and correlations in large datasets.

Competitive Advantage

Faster decisions and better customer service through AI.

Everything About AI Development Costs

Costs & Budget

How much does an AI chatbot cost?

An FAQ bot with predefined answers: €5,000–15,000 excl. VAT. An intelligent chatbot with LLM integration (GPT-4 etc.): €15,000–40,000 excl. VAT. An enterprise bot with knowledge base: €40,000–100,000 excl. VAT.

How much does machine learning development cost?

A proof of concept: €10,000–30,000 excl. VAT. A production-ready ML model: €30,000–100,000 excl. VAT. Deep learning with custom training: €80,000–300,000+ excl. VAT. Costs depend on data quality.

What are the ongoing costs of AI?

API costs for LLMs (GPT-4, Claude): €100–2,000/month excl. VAT depending on volume. Cloud infrastructure: €200–2,000/month excl. VAT. Maintenance and updates: €500–3,000/month excl. VAT.

Calculate AI Costs

Use our cost calculator for an initial estimate of your AI project.

Go to Cost Calculator

Technology & Approaches

Can you integrate AI into existing software?

Yes, AI features like text generation, classification, image recognition, or recommendations can be integrated into any modern software via APIs. Integration typically costs €5,000–20,000 excl. VAT.

When is custom ML better than pre-built models?

Pre-built models (GPT, Claude): Fast, affordable, great for text/speech. Custom ML: For specialized data, domain expertise, or data privacy requirements. We advise on the optimal approach.

What is RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation)?

RAG combines LLMs with your own knowledge base. Instead of only answering based on general training, the AI accesses your documents – drastically reducing hallucinations.

Request AI Consultation

Which AI approach suits your use case? We provide free, no-obligation advice.

Get in Touch

Funding & Timeline

Are there grants for AI projects?

Yes, programs like "Digital Jetzt" or regional funding can cover up to 50% of project costs. We support you with the application process.

How long does an AI project take?

LLM integration: 1–4 weeks. RAG/knowledge base: 4–12 weeks. Custom machine learning: 3–12+ months depending on complexity and data availability.

More About AI Development

Realize AI Projects with Up to 50% Funding

Artificial intelligence is a focus of many funding programs. Federal and state governments support AI investments with attractive grants. Check your options.

Calculate Funding

Start Your AI Project

From idea to production-ready AI solution – we guide you through every phase.

Request AI Consultation AI Services