Are you using GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or other AI coding assistants? Here's a question most developers can't answer: How much does AI-assisted coding actually cost per sprint?
After digging into our team's AI tooling spend, I built a tracker. The numbers were eye-opening.
The Hidden Cost of AI Coding Assistants
Most AI coding tools are billed per-seat monthly plus token overage. Here's what that looks like in practice:
| Tool | Monthly per Seat | Overage Risk |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub Copilot | $10-$19 | Low (fixed) |
| Cursor | $20 | Medium (pro queries) |
| OpenAI API (via custom tools) | Varies | High (usage-based) |
Multiply across a team of 5-10 developers and the cost compounds fast - especially if someone's running high-volume refactoring or using API-based custom workflows.
What We Tracked
I built a simple AI Coding Cost Tracker that breaks spend down by:
- Per-developer - who's generating the most token consumption?
- Per-project - which codebases are driving usage?
- Per-tool - where's the ROI best vs. most expensive?
The dashboard gives real-time visibility. No more guessing at month-end whether that $500 Copilot bill was justified.
The Practical Takeaway
Tracking is step one. Once you see the data, patterns emerge:
- Heavy refactoring weeks spike costs 3-5x - schedule them intentionally.
- Junior devs benefit more from AI assistance (higher token usage, bigger productivity gain).
- Some projects consume 80% of tokens - is that project generating 80% of revenue?
Start Tracking Your Own
If this resonated, grab the AI Coding Cost Tracker - a one-time GBP 5 tool that works with Copilot, Cursor, and OpenAI-powered workflows. No subscription, no monthly creep.
Track every token. Control every cost.
Product page: https://theaisuite.pages.dev/copilot-token-billing/
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