Chinese AI APIs vs OpenAI: A Cost Modeling Analysis (2026)
How much does it actually cost to run a production workload on Chinese AI APIs versus OpenAI? A 30-day cost model built from official pricing — covering text LLMs, vision, and TTS across DeepSeek V4, Qwen 3, Kimi K2, and Doubao. Includes hidden-cost traps, optimization strategies, and the payment friction overseas developers should expect.