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Cities are greener than suburbs by and large, so actually putting more people in cities that otherwise would have lived in a burb is a win for the environment.

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Is that true when you factor in utilities? IE - Where does all the water come from? At least in the burbs, you can set up your own well.

Yes, it is, especially when you consider utilities. Average house in the burbs has some lawn or shrubs or something that uses water, and it's not like well water is ultimately 'free' - it comes from somewhere. Also, it means less land developed, less extensive electrical and water distribution systems, and so on.

What makes cost of living so much more expensive in cities vs. suburban or rural areas if they're really so much more efficient?

Demand.

Yes. Cities, dense cities, are efficiency machines.

Look up Geoffrey West, of the Santa Fe Institute, who does all kinds of research on scale and scale effects. Including of cities.

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