[xboxnolifes]

The 4 person example has a lot more usable space though, since you're sharing common space. You're not adding 3 more kitchens. Or 3 more laundry areas. Or 3 more bathrooms (maybe 1). Or 3 more living rooms.

The 270 ft² space might have 100 ft² usable area, but the 1076 ft² could have 700 ft² usable.

[quesera]

This make sense numerically -- but having lived in both, I'll argue that that is not the determining measure.

It seems to depend on how common the common space, and the people occupying it, are.

Flatmates (and offspring) can have a low quotient of space utilization compatibility.