🏠 Student Housing Cost Predictor

📋 Project Overview

The Student Housing Cost Predictor is an interactive Shiny web application designed to help students estimate their monthly rent based on various factors such as location, apartment size, amenities, and distance from campus.

🎯 Purpose

Choosing student housing can be challenging. This app simplifies the decision-making process by providing transparent, data-driven rent estimates. Students can compare different options and understand exactly what factors contribute to their housing costs.

🚀 Live Application

Click here to use the app on ShinyApps.io

💡 Key Features

1. Interactive Input Controls

Adjust apartment size (200-2000 sqft)
Select number of bedrooms (1-4)
Choose location type (on-campus, off-campus urban, off-campus suburban)
Specify distance from campus (0-10 miles)
Select amenities (WiFi, utilities, furnished, parking)

2. Real-Time Cost Calculation

Instant rent estimation based on your selections
Transparent cost breakdown showing each component’s contribution

3. Cost Comparison

Compare your estimated rent to average housing costs in your chosen location
See potential savings or additional expenses at a glance

4. Beautiful UI/UX

Gradient color scheme with purple theme
Responsive design that works on desktop and mobile
Clear visual hierarchy with organized sections

📊 Cost Model Explained

The app uses a component-based pricing model to calculate rent:

Total Rent = Base Rent + Square Footage + Bedrooms + Location + Amenities + Distance

Model Components

Base Rent: $800/month

The foundation of the pricing model represents a standard 1-bedroom apartment.

Square Footage Adjustment

Calculation: (sqft / 200) × $200
Scales linearly with apartment size
Example: A 400 sqft apartment adds $400

Bedroom Adjustment

Each additional bedroom adds $250
Formula: (bedrooms - 1) × $250
1 bedroom: $0 | 2 bedrooms: $250 | 3 bedrooms: $500

Location Multiplier

Adjusts the base rent based on location desirability:

Location	Multiplier	Impact
On Campus	0.9	-10% discount (saves $80)
Off-Campus Suburban	1.0	No adjustment
Off-Campus Urban	1.2	+20% premium (adds $160)

Amenities Cost

Additional features add to your rent:

Amenity	Cost
WiFi	$30
Utilities Included	$100
Furnished	$150
Parking	$75

You can select multiple amenities - costs are cumulative

Distance Discount

Living further from campus reduces rent: - If distance > 2 miles: -$15 per additional mile - Example: 4 miles away = -$30 reduction

Calculation Example

Scenario: 2-bedroom, 500 sqft apartment, off-campus suburban, 3 miles away, with WiFi and parking

Base Rent:                   $800.00
Square Footage (500/200×200): $500.00
Bedrooms (2-1)×250:          $250.00
Location (suburban):           $0.00
Amenities (WiFi + Parking):   $105.00
Distance (3-2)×-15:          -$15.00
─────────────────────────────────────
TOTAL:                     $1,640.00

🛠️ Technology Stack

The application is built with:

R Language - Core programming language
Shiny - Interactive web framework
CSS - Custom styling with gradient themes
ShinyApps.io - Cloud hosting platform

Key R Packages

shiny - Web app framework
rlang - Error handling (via rsconnect)

📱 How to Use the App

Step 1: Open the App

Visit the live app on ShinyApps.io

Step 2: Enter Your Details

Fill in the left sidebar with: - Apartment size in square feet - Number of bedrooms - Location type - Distance from campus - Desired amenities

Step 3: Calculate

Click the “Calculate Rent” button to see your estimated monthly rent.

Step 4: Review Results

View your estimated monthly rent in large text
Check the cost breakdown table to understand each component
Compare your rent to the average in your location
See if you’re saving or spending more than average

Step 5: Explore Options

Adjust inputs to see how changes affect your rent
Use the “Reset” button to start over
Compare different scenarios side-by-side

📈 Interpretation Guide

Cost Breakdown Table

Shows exactly how much each factor contributes to your total rent:

Component	Purpose
Base Rent	Starting point for all calculations
Square Footage Adjustment	How size affects price
Bedroom Adjustment	Cost of additional sleeping areas
Location Adjustment	Market demand premium/discount
Amenities	Cost of additional features
Distance Adjustment	Savings from being further away
TOTAL	Your estimated monthly rent

Comparison Section

Green checkmark (✓): You’re saving money compared to average
Red X (✗): Your estimated rent is higher than average
Yellow dash (−): Your rent matches the average

💾 Model Parameters & Assumptions

The model makes these assumptions:

Linear scaling - Rent increases proportionally with square footage
Fixed amenity costs - Same amenity costs regardless of location
Cumulative amenities - Amenity costs add together
Distance efficiency - Every mile beyond 2 miles saves exactly $15
Location-only adjustments - Location multipliers apply only to base rent

Average Housing Costs (Baseline)

On Campus: $750/month
Off-Campus Urban: $1,200/month
Off-Campus Suburban: $950/month

🔍 Model Limitations & Future Improvements

Current Limitations

Doesn’t account for utility market variations
Assumes uniform amenity value across locations
Distance discount doesn’t account for transportation time value
No consideration for roommate/shared housing scenarios

Potential Enhancements

Add utilities cost breakdown by location
Include neighborhood safety/walkability scores
Add lease term length adjustments (6-month vs 12-month)
Roommate sharing calculator
Historical price trends
Seasonal rent variations

📊 Example Scenarios

Budget Student (Minimal Amenities)

300 sqft, 1 bedroom, on-campus, 0.5 miles away
No amenities selected
Estimated Rent: ~$660/month

Standard Student (Comfortable)

450 sqft, 2 bedrooms, off-campus suburban, 2 miles away
WiFi + Utilities + Parking
Estimated Rent: ~$1,235/month

Premium Student (Full Amenities)

600 sqft, 2 bedrooms, off-campus suburban, 1 mile away
WiFi + Utilities + Furnished + Parking
Estimated Rent: ~$1,605/month

Urban Living (City Apartment)

500 sqft, 1 bedroom, off-campus urban, 1 mile away
WiFi + Utilities
Estimated Rent: ~$1,200/month

🎓 Learning Outcomes

By using this app, students can:

Understand housing economics - See how different factors affect pricing
Make informed decisions - Compare options objectively
Budget effectively - Plan finances around realistic rent estimates
Negotiate better - Understand market value of amenities
Explore trade-offs - See cost-benefit of distance vs. amenities

📝 Code Structure

The Shiny app is organized into three main sections:

Global Functions & Settings

# Base rent: $800
# Cost calculation functions
# Location multipliers
# Amenity costs
# Distance discounts

User Interface (UI)

Custom CSS styling with gradient theme
Sidebar layout with input controls
Main panel displaying results
Interactive tables and text outputs

Server Logic

Reactive cost calculations
Input validation and updates
Dynamic output generation
Reset button functionality

💬 Feedback & Suggestions

Have ideas for improvements? Want to see additional features?

This model can be customized for different universities
Amenity costs can be adjusted based on local market data
Location categories can be expanded with more specific areas
Integration with real housing listing APIs is possible

📚 About the Creator

Built by Vidhimistryy as an R Shiny application to help students make informed housing decisions.

Skills Demonstrated: - Shiny web development - R programming - Interactive UI/UX design - Data-driven decision making - Cloud deployment

📄 License & Usage

This project is shared as an educational tool. Feel free to use it to estimate housing costs for your needs!

Last Updated: 2026-02-13

Made with ❤️ using R and Shiny