The sexocalypse is nigh

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Having been through the family court system for 25 years I can give a bit of insight here.
Courts consider all of the following to be reasonable, applicable expenses when raising a child.
All of these are taken into consideration (and likely more, but I can't remember everything).

- Rent or mortgage increase: Giving the child their own bedroom in a safe neighbourhood for children
Any additional housing costs above what you would pay for a bachelor / basement apartment for yourself.

- Home utility costs (heat, water, electricity, gas) for the larger home as well as their own consumption

- Their portion of yearly land taxes on the home if applicable

- Sales taxes on every product you buy for them

- Income tax that you pay as a result of your income (salary required to maintain home)

- All items from birth to age 18 (and longer if they're disabled or in college / university)
That includes all baby stuff even if it's second hand, nappies, car seats, etc. as required by law

- Mother's time off work during pregnancy and postpartum

- Daycare at a registered provider

- Daycare before school and after school for children ages 5-12 at a registered provider (if parents working)

- Healthcare insurance premiums and health-related expenses including dental and orthodonture

- All medications for the child

- Healthcare costs for the mother (including fertility doctors, pregnancy, OBs, birth, postpartum, mental health)

- Transportation costs to get them to / from school, activities, and part-time jobs (buying a family car, car insurance, gasoline, buses, etc.)

- Special expenses for the child's developmental needs: wheelchairs, respite care, summer camps if parents work, swimming lessons (lifesaving skill), extracurricular interests and lessons (sports, arts, music, etc.)

- A mobile phone for the child's safety (I believe it's after age 12)

- Access to the internet (additional consumption e.g., having unlimited use or a better signal)

- All clothing for 18+ years and the cost of washing that clothing (the hot water etc.)

- Grooming (haircuts, personal hygiene products)

- School uniforms, lunches, tuition fees, books for school, school supplies

- Tuition for college or university including room and board if applicable

- All food they ever eat starting with breast pumps for mothers, baby bottles, pacifiers

- Legal fees related to divorce / child custody matters

Certainly not all families need or do all of this, but it's all considered reasonable expenses and protected by law for the healthy / normal development of children.

Imagine having a boarder move into your home and you have to pay their share of additional expenses for 18+ years.

Yes, to an extent some of them are mixed. That's why they look at what the expense is above what you'd pay for accommodations without children. I know that some couples / single people already own a home or car before having children, but once the child comes along those expenses are considered part of the child's welfare. For example I already owned a home prior to having children, but I had chosen a home that was near the best primary school in our area and near the grandparents. If I sold my house and got a 2-bedroom apartment it would have cost more per month than maintaining my home. If I didn't have kids at all I would sell my house and go live with my mother (likely for free), or live in a much smaller place somewhere far away from the good schools.

I'm not saying that all those costs matter to me or I expect anyone to help me pay them, but that's how the court looks at children's needs and what is reasonable for kids in today's day and age.