In Audacity, it's double that, because Audacity works in 32-bit float format (for best processing quality).
Also, while working on a project, there is "Undo" data. For example, if you have a 1 hour stereo track in Audacity (about 1.4 GB), and Amplify it, then there is 1.4 GB of data for the current project, plus another 1.4 GB of Undo data. Apply a filter to the whole project, and that's another 1.4 GB on the disk.
When Audacity is closed, the Undo data is deleted, but while working, Audacity projects can become very big.