diff --git a/routstr/payment/cost_calculation.py b/routstr/payment/cost_calculation.py
index 27b04235..820bd174 100644
--- a/routstr/payment/cost_calculation.py
+++ b/routstr/payment/cost_calculation.py
@@ -418,10 +418,21 @@ def _calculate_from_tokens(
         },
     )
 
+    # Fold the cache-read/write cost into the visible ``input_msats`` so a
+    # dashboard that renders I / O / T sees ``input + output == total``
+    # exactly. This mirrors ``_fold_cache_into_input_tokens`` (which rolls the
+    # cache token counts into the visible prompt total). The standalone
+    # ``cache_read_msats`` / ``cache_creation_msats`` fields stay populated for
+    # clients that want the breakdown; nothing sums the components to derive
+    # ``total_msats`` (it is computed independently above), so this is
+    # display-only and does not change what is billed.
+    visible_output_msats = int(calc_output_msats)
+    visible_input_msats = token_based_cost - visible_output_msats
+
     return CostData(
         base_msats=0,
-        input_msats=int(calc_input_msats),
-        output_msats=int(calc_output_msats),
+        input_msats=visible_input_msats,
+        output_msats=visible_output_msats,
         total_msats=token_based_cost,
         total_usd=total_usd,
         input_tokens=input_tokens,
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_cache_pricing.py b/tests/unit/test_cache_pricing.py
index 14eb7965..c9af6e2d 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_cache_pricing.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_cache_pricing.py
@@ -181,10 +181,14 @@ async def test_deepseek_cache_hits_billed_at_cache_rate(model_pricing: Mock) ->
         result = await calculate_cost(response, max_cost=100000)
 
     assert isinstance(result, CostData)
-    # 1000 input @ 1 msat + 9000 cache reads @ 0.1 msat + 500 output @ 2 msat
-    assert result.input_msats == 1000
+    # 1000 input @ 1 msat + 9000 cache reads @ 0.1 msat + 500 output @ 2 msat.
+    # input_msats folds the cache-read cost in (1000 + 900) so a dashboard
+    # rendering I/O/T sees input + output == total; the cache portion stays
+    # visible in cache_read_msats.
     assert result.cache_read_msats == 900
     assert result.output_msats == 1000
+    assert result.input_msats == 1900
+    assert result.input_msats + result.output_msats == result.total_msats
     assert result.total_msats == 2900