Taka cena to szaleństwo.

Because taka means such a / that kind of, while ta means this / that.

So:

• ta cena = this price
• taka cena = such a price, a price like that

In this sentence, the speaker is reacting to the type or level of the price, not just pointing to a specific price. That is why taka is the natural choice.

Taka has to agree with cena in gender, number, and case.

Here, cena is:

• feminine
• singular
• nominative

So the correct form is taka.

Compare:

• taki problem — masculine
• taka cena — feminine
• takie pytanie — neuter
• takie ceny — plural

Because cena is the subject of the sentence, so it appears in the nominative case.

In Taka cena to szaleństwo, the phrase taka cena is the thing being talked about: such a price.

That is why you get:

• taka cena — nominative

not:

• taką cenę — accusative

Here to works as a linking word in an equational sentence, connecting one noun phrase to another.

So:

• Taka cena — one idea
• szaleństwo — another idea
• to links them: Such a price = madness

In sentences like this, to often acts a bit like is in English, especially when one thing is being identified as another.

Examples:

• To problem. — This is a problem.
• Czas to pieniądz. — Time is money.
• To miasto to Warszawa. — This city is Warsaw.

So in your sentence, to is not really this/it in the ordinary pronoun sense. It is mainly a sentence linker.

Because Polish often leaves out jest in this kind of sentence, especially when to is used.

So:

• Taka cena to szaleństwo. — very natural
• Taka cena jest szaleństwem. — also correct, but structured differently

These are related, but not identical in grammar:

1. X to Y
   Both parts are usually in the nominative.
   Example: To szaleństwo.

2. X jest Y
   After jest, the second noun is often in the instrumental.
   Example: To jest szaleństwem would be odd here, but Taka cena jest szaleństwem is grammatical.

In everyday speech, X to Y is very common and sounds natural.

Because after to, Polish normally uses the nominative, not the instrumental.

So:

• Taka cena to szaleństwo. — nominative
• Taka cena jest szaleństwem. — instrumental after jest

This is a very common contrast in Polish:

• To problem.
• Jest problemem.

So the form szaleństwo is exactly what you expect after to.

Literally, szaleństwo means madness, insanity, or craziness.

In this sentence, it is probably not meant literally. It expresses a strong reaction, something like:

• That’s crazy
• That’s insane
• That’s ridiculous
• That price is outrageous

So szaleństwo is an emotional, idiomatic way to say the price is far too high or unreasonable.

Yes, it sounds natural.

Taka cena to szaleństwo is a normal, idiomatic way to react strongly to a price. It feels expressive and conversational.

Other natural variants include:

• To szaleństwo. — It’s madness.
• To jakaś przesada. — That’s too much / That’s excessive.
• To absurd. — That’s absurd.
• Ta cena jest szalona. — That price is crazy.

Your original sentence is a good, natural pattern to learn.

Yes, but it means something slightly different.

• Ta cena to szaleństwo = This/that price is madness
• Taka cena to szaleństwo = Such a price is madness

So:

• ta points to a specific price
• taka comments on the kind or level of the price

If you are looking at one price tag and reacting to it, Ta cena to szaleństwo is very natural.
If you mean a price like that, then Taka cena to szaleństwo is the better choice.

Yes, Polish word order is fairly flexible, but not every version sounds equally natural.

The most natural version here is:

• Taka cena to szaleństwo.

You could also say:

• To szaleństwo, taka cena.

But that sounds more dramatic or marked, and less neutral.

So while Polish allows word-order variation, the original order is the best default choice for learners.

A rough pronunciation guide:

• Taka ≈ TAH-kah
• cena ≈ TSEH-nah
• to ≈ toh
• szaleństwo ≈ sha-LEN-stvo

A more detailed approximation: TAH-kah TSEH-nah toh sha-LEN-stvo

Stress in Polish usually falls on the second-to-last syllable of each word:

• TA-ka
• CE-na
• to
• sza-LEŃ-stwo

The sz sounds like English sh, and c in cena sounds like ts.

Not always.

It can be negative, as in this sentence:

• Taka cena to szaleństwo. — the price is unreasonably high

But it can also be positive or excited, depending on context:

• To było szaleństwo! — That was crazy!
• Szaleństwo zakupów — shopping frenzy

So the word itself expresses intensity. The exact feeling depends on the situation.

A very useful pattern is:

taki / taka / takie + noun + to + noun

Examples:

• Taki pomysł to błąd. — Such an idea is a mistake.
• Taka cena to przesada. — Such a price is too much.
• Takie zachowanie to wstyd. — Such behavior is shameful.

This pattern is common in spoken and written Polish when giving judgments, reactions, or definitions. It is worth memorizing.