Business AI token pricing and consulting costs revealed

Ramp’s analysis of AI vendor payments in April 2026 shows that businesses spend a median of $2,246 per month on AI tokens, while the average spend is $140,842. Token costs average 72 cents per million tokens, ranging from 7 cents for the cheapest GPT‑5‑nano model to $1.42 for the premium GPT‑5.5 model. About 58 % of companies spend over $1,000 per month, 31 % exceed $10,000, 13 % go past $50,000, and a small share spend more than $100,000.

For small‑business AI consulting, projects typically cost between £1,500 and £8,000, last four to eight weeks, and focus on automating specific processes. Day‑rate consultants in the UK charge £450‑£1,200, while ongoing retainers range from £800 to £3,000 a month. DIY courses can be as cheap as £20‑£300.