Updated March 26, 2026· Based on independent benchmark data
GPT-5.4 (xhigh) leads in intelligence with a score of 57.2 vs 9.0. GPT-3.5 Turbo is 5.0x cheaper at $0.50/1M tokens vs $2.50/1M.
| Metric | GPT-3.5 Turbo | GPT-5.4 (xhigh) |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Score | 9.0 | 57.2 |
| Coding Score | 10.7 | 57.3 |
| Math Score | N/A | N/A |
| Speed (tok/s) | 97 tok/s | 77 tok/s |
| Latency (TTFT) | 0.42s | 181.82s |
| Input Price / 1M tokens | $0.50 | $2.50 |
| Output Price / 1M tokens | $1.50 | $15 |
| Context Window | 16K | N/A |
GPT-5.4 (xhigh) outperforms GPT-3.5 Turbo on the intelligence index with a score of 57.2 compared to 9.0. For coding tasks, GPT-5.4 (xhigh) has the edge with a coding score of 57.3 vs 10.7.
GPT-3.5 Turbo generates output significantly faster at 97 tok/s compared to GPT-5.4 (xhigh)'s 77 tok/s, making it 1.3x faster for streaming responses. Time to first token is 0.42s for GPT-3.5 Turbo vs 181.82s for GPT-5.4 (xhigh), which affects perceived responsiveness in interactive applications.
GPT-3.5 Turbo is more affordable at $0.50/1M input tokens ($1.50/1M output), while GPT-5.4 (xhigh) costs $2.50/1M input ($15/1M output). That makes GPT-5.4 (xhigh) 5.0x more expensive per token, which can add up significantly at scale. For a typical workload of 100 requests per day at 2,000 tokens each, GPT-3.5 Turbo would cost approximately $3.00/month vs $15.00/month for GPT-5.4 (xhigh) in input costs alone.
Choose GPT-3.5 Turbo when you need lower cost. Choose GPT-5.4 (xhigh) when you need higher intelligence (57.2), stronger coding performance (57.3).
GPT-5.4 (xhigh) scores higher on coding benchmarks (57.3 vs 10.7), making it the better choice for programming tasks.
GPT-3.5 Turbo is cheaper at $0.50/1M input tokens vs $2.50/1M for GPT-5.4 (xhigh).
GPT-3.5 Turbo is faster, producing output at 97 tok/s compared to GPT-5.4 (xhigh)'s 77 tok/s.
No, GPT-3.5 Turbo does not support image input. Neither model supports image input.
Data last synced: March 26, 2026
| Max Output Tokens | N/A | N/A |
| Input Modalities | Text | Text |
| Output Modalities | Text | Text |
| Free Tier | No | No |
It depends on your priorities. GPT-5.4 (xhigh) scores higher on intelligence (57.2), but GPT-3.5 Turbo may be better for specific use cases like budget-conscious projects or speed-critical applications.