For project managers, wielding control over project finances is a cornerstone of success. A comprehensive understanding of project costs - encompassing fixed, variable, direct, and indirect categories - is paramount for crafting realistic budgets, driving informed decision-making, and ultimately, ensuring project delivery within budget constraints. The distinction between fixed and variable costs is crucial. Fixed costs remain constant throughout the project lifecycle, irrespective of activity levels. Conversely, variable costs fluctuate in proportion to project scope or resource utilization. Material costs for construction or temporary labor wages exemplify variable costs. This understanding empowers project managers to create accurate budgets. Fixed costs are readily predictable and can be factored in with ease. Variable costs, however, necessitate estimations of activity levels. Equipped with this knowledge, project managers can monitor spending against the budget and proactively identify areas for cost optimization. Additionally, this understanding empowers strategic decision-making. For instance, if a project requires increased production to meet a deadline, comprehending how this impacts both fixed (spreads across more units) and variable costs (increases with production) allows for the selection of the most cost-effective approach (Kloppenborg et al., 2022). Another key distinction lies between direct and indirect costs. Direct costs are those that can be