For a college student who wishes to calculate the true costs of going to college, the cost and board of the room

Should be counted only to the extent that they are more expensive at college than elsewhere

Explanation:

True cost refers to the total cost of a certain product added with the hidden cost that might occur before we can get that product. For colleges, the true cost will include the price of the college itself plus additional cost such as the price of the room that you must pay and the cost of food that you have to spend if you have to live near college.

If the cost of living in college is cheaper than the cost of living before entering college, this mean that living in college area is a cut to your previous budget and could not be considered as cost.