diff --git a/src/openultrasast/search/budget.py b/src/openultrasast/search/budget.py
index 8482fef..09c6a2b 100644
--- a/src/openultrasast/search/budget.py
+++ b/src/openultrasast/search/budget.py
@@ -6,8 +6,10 @@ from dataclasses import dataclass
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)
 class SearchBudget:
-    spend_usd: float = 0.50
-    max_call_usd: float = 0.05
+    # Recalibrated 2026-10-05 on the first three measured searches: settled cost was ~$0.003 per model call,
+    # but worst-case reservations (~$0.027 per call) exhausted the old $0.05 task allowance after 2-4 calls.
+    spend_usd: float = 2.00
+    max_call_usd: float = 0.40
     reason_rounds: int = 4
     intents_per_round: int = 3
     demonstrations: int = 3
diff --git a/tests/test_search_coordinator.py b/tests/test_search_coordinator.py
index a816071..35edd61 100644
--- a/tests/test_search_coordinator.py
+++ b/tests/test_search_coordinator.py
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ def test_claim_checkpoint_survives_interrupt_without_free_spend(tmp_path):
     checkpoint = b.head
     resumed = Board.resume(b.store, "search-1", checkpoint, coordinator="host")
     state = Coordinator(resumed, lambda task: {"status": "ok", "cost_usd": 0, "intents": []}).run()
-    assert state["checkpoint"]["spent_usd"] == 0.05
+    assert state["checkpoint"]["spent_usd"] == SearchBudget().max_call_usd
     assert state["checkpoint"]["tasks"] == 3
 
 
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ def test_cleanup_failure_halts_and_charges_unknown_spend(tmp_path):
     with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="cleanup"):
         Coordinator(b, broken).run()
     assert len(calls) == 1
-    assert b.state["checkpoint"]["spent_usd"] == 0.05
+    assert b.state["checkpoint"]["spent_usd"] == SearchBudget().max_call_usd
     assert b.state["checkpoint"]["pending"]["id"] == calls[0].id