Runway's API at $0.50/sec is roughly a third of Sora's $1.50/sec, and the quality gap on most use cases isn't 3x. For agency or marketing teams generating volume, Runway is the default. Sora wins when you need the absolute best single shot — physics, lighting, and prompt adherence still lead.
Worth noting: Sora is bundled into ChatGPT Plus/Pro at $20-200/mo, which is one of the best deals in AI video for occasional use.