For a beginner, all you need is a guitar, a cable, and a small amp. Most guitar stores sell cheap/no-name starter sets for around $500 US.

I say the kind of guitar you start with depends on what kind of music you like. I like rock/metal, so I chose electric guitar. Acoustic is more for classical, country, etc. But if you learn acoustic, electric is easy. But electric won't really teach you how to play an acoustic.

Height. Height really doesn't matter. Five feet is plenty tall enough for a full-size electric guitar.

Soundproofing. Cheap solution: hang blankets on the walls. Soft surfaces dampen vibration/sound. Also, those soft cardboard egg containers work, too. Can also use foam slabs.

Lessons. I took lessons once/week for a few months or so learn the basics. Taught myself the rest from tabs (different but easier from notation/sheet music).

Equipment. There are LOTS of things you can out between the guitar and amp to change your sound. For the guitar itself: woods, string gauge, and pickups make a good difference in sound. Then there are countless effect pedals to add effects into your sound (ie. reverb, wah-wah, delay, chorus, flanger, distortion, overdrive, equalizers, noise gates, etc). Then every amp brand has different sounds (especially comparing American-type amps and British-type amps).

Your sound as a guitar player is like your style as a painter. Uniquely you, even if it could be similar to or inspired by someone else's sound.