๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐๐: ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ป๐ฎ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐
Self-hosting AI is not free. It costs money and time. But for heavy users, it saves a lot of money.
If you pay $70 per month for AI tools, a used RTX 3090 pays for itself in 14 months.
If you also pay $50 per month for API fees, that same card pays for itself in 8 months.
The Math for a $70/month SaaS Stack:
- ChatGPT Plus: $20
- GitHub Copilot: $10
- Claude Pro: $20
- Cursor: $20
- Total: $840 per year
The Self-Host Alternative:
- Hardware: ~$850 for a used RTX 3090
- Electricity: ~$8 per month
- Software: $0 (Ollama, Open WebUI, Continue.dev)
Comparison of Hardware: โข RTX 3090: Best value. Breaks even in 14 months. 24GB VRAM. โข RTX 4090: Faster speed. Breaks even in 38 months. 24GB VRAM. โข RTX 4060 Ti: Low cost. Takes 24 months to break even. 16GB VRAM.
Important Details:
- The RTX 4090 is a speed upgrade, not a capacity upgrade. It runs the same models as the 3090 because they have the same VRAM.
- Local models like Qwen3-30B are good for coding but not as smart as GPT-5.
- You must account for your time. Updating models and fixing plugins takes effort.
Summary: If you spend over $60 per month on AI, buy a used RTX 3090. You will save over $1,300 in three years. If you spend only $20 per month, stick to SaaS. The math does not work for light users.
Optional learning community: https://t.me/GyaanSetuAi