Questions & Answers about Koszt tego projektu jest bardzo wygórowany.
Since the current lesson is about the particle aż, could I replace bardzo with aż to emphasize the high cost?
You cannot simply say jest aż wygórowany. The particle aż emphasizes an unexpectedly large quantity, number, or extent, so it cannot directly modify a standalone adjective. To use it here, you would need to add tak (so/that) to show the extent: Koszt tego projektu jest aż tak wygórowany (The cost of this project is that exorbitant). Alternatively, you could use aż with the actual number: Kosztuje aż milion złotych!
What is the literal meaning of the word wygórowany?
It comes from the root noun góra (mountain, top) and the prefix wy- (out/up). Literally, it means something has been pushed or built "too high up." In everyday Polish, you will hear it almost exclusively modifying words related to limits being pushed, such as cena (price), koszt (cost), or wymagania (demands/expectations).
Could I use the word cena instead of koszt in this sentence?
You could, but they have different business and everyday nuances, just like "price" and "cost" in English. Cena is the literal "price" a buyer pays for an item or service. Koszt refers to the broader "cost" or overall expenses required to produce, run, or complete something, which makes it the natural choice for a word like projekt (project).