The actual cost depends almost entirely on context window size and task frequency, not the hosting tier.

  Light usage (a few conversations a day, no cron jobs) typically lands $5-20/month in API tokens. The trap is scheduled tasks or       
  heartbeat loops running against Opus — that compound fast. Switching the default model to Sonnet cuts costs ~5x for most workloads with
  no real quality difference for non-coding tasks.

  A few things that actually move the needle:
  - Run openclaw models list to see what's configured, then set a cheaper default for routine tasks
  - Set a token budget in any cron job skill config before running it overnight
  - Keep MEMORY.md trimmed — long memory files add to every request

  I put together a cost calculator at openclawcheatsheet.com that lets you model different usage patterns (message frequency, cron jobs,
  context size) and get a realistic monthly estimate. Helped me stop being surprised by my Anthropic bill.