Cost of Attendance

This is more of a vent than anything and I understand the answer to the question is “take out more loans”, but how tf are some of these schools making their COA? Northeastern says it costs $22,000 per year to attend in BOSTON, one of the most expensive cities in the country. A studio in Boston is like $2500 and even with roommates your rent can very sell be over the amount allotted for rent. Meanwhile, schools in much more affordable cities are allotting several thousands of dollars more for housing and overall attendance, go the point where you can take your pick of any apartment in the city. How is this even calculated? Like is it just out of touch administrators making up these numbers or is there a method to this?