I can go out for a nice meal and enjoy the result without having to know what spices the chef used and how he cooked it.  

The college they are attending estimates room and meals to cost $5,700 a semester.

New York and Austin both experience insane competition, but we believe Austin and Texas have healthier economic fundamentals than New York that will produce more wealth over the long term. 

You can deduct any reasonable and customary business-related expenses for your rental business, including mileage, travel, meals and a home office. 

I like 1980 and after but have looked at no older than 1960.4 - 3/2 preferable. 3/1.5 could work too5 - I live in Ca but invest out of state. in much healthier and stronger economies than you mentioned and where it is easier to find a 3/2, 1990+, w/o a pool, in good schools, that will generate a positive cash flow after expenses and mortgage payments and in states that are landlord friendlier. 

We rented a room to exchange students for around 700 per month which included meals.

Additional Living expense:  This coverage is for the loss of rental income and your additional expenses (hotel, meals, cleaning, etc.) if the property can not be occupied because of a covered loss such as a fire.  

Yes, people generally have one private room and then some shared common space (kitchen, bathroom, living room).You can do whatever you like but I don't know many people that just want to rent a bedroom with no place to prepare a meal.

This should also give the market enough time to stop being so competitive and start a little bit of a healthier return when prices start to come down.  

For example, when you go to a fine dining restaurant, you get the psychological payoff of enjoying a good meal whereas the restaurant gets the financial payoff of charging you a small fortune.