There is no additional fee for upgrading armor outside of the required items, so don't worry about your wallet being on the lighter side. All you need to do is ensure that you have at least one Great Fairy that is responsible for upgrading equipment, as well as the items required to upgrade that item. The armor upgrading system in Breath of the Wild is pretty standard for an RPG. How the Armor Upgrade Mechanic Works with Great Fairies in Breath of the Wild
But before we get to their locations, let's look at how some of the mechanics work real quick.