How should I compare universities when tuition fees are similar but living costs are very different?

Compare universities by estimating the total cost through graduation, not tuition alone. Include tuition and enrollment fees, housing, food, transport, utilities, materials, insurance, and one-time costs such as moving, both per year and across the full period of study. Then consider scholarships, commuting time, the program you want to study, and the living environment. Using current official information and preparing several budgets for different living arrangements makes the comparison more realistic.