{
  "schema_version": "1.0",
  "surface_type": "tool_answer",
  "tool_id": "rag-cost-per-user",
  "citation_question": "How much does an AI workflow cost per user per month?",
  "question": "How do I calculate AI workflow cost per user per month with optional retrieval and infra layers?",
  "canonical_url": "https://www.unitcostai.com/tools/ai-workflow-cost",
  "formula": "embedding_ingestion_share_usd = embedding_ingestion_monthly_usd / monthly_active_users; cost_per_user_month_usd = generation + retrieval + reranking + embedding_ingestion_share_usd + vector_db + cache + infra; cost_per_request_usd = cost_per_user_month_usd / requests_per_user_month",
  "assumptions": [
    "All cost terms are in USD per active user-month unless noted",
    "Embedding refresh starts as a fixed monthly corpus term and is amortized across monthly_active_users before it is included per user",
    "Cache is modeled as a signed cost term and can be negative (savings)",
    "Token and model rates come from one published pricing snapshot context"
  ],
  "example": "If generation=1.80, retrieval=0.60, reranking=0.30, embedding_ingestion_share=0.20, vector_db=0.10, cache=-0.40, infra=0.20, then cost_per_user_month=2.80",
  "units": "USD per request and USD per active user-month",
  "pricing_context": {
    "context_type": "pricing_snapshot",
    "snapshot_id": "2026-06-21",
    "snapshot_date": "2026-06-21",
    "reference_url": "https://www.unitcostai.com/pricing"
  },
  "pricing_snapshot": {
    "snapshot_id": "2026-06-21",
    "snapshot_date": "2026-06-21",
    "pricing_reference_url": "https://www.unitcostai.com/pricing"
  }
}