Running Costs — Italy
Annual costs of owning a Tuscan farmhouse, Umbrian stone house, or Puglia masseria — with realistic utility, maintenance, and tax estimates.
Updated February 2026
Italy
Annual running cost breakdown for a typical 200m² rural Italian farmhouse (second home):
IMU (annual municipal property tax)
Typically €1,500–€3,500/year depending on the comune and the property's cadastral value. This is often the largest annual fixed cost for second-home owners.
TARI (waste collection tax)
Charged by the comune. Typically €200–€500/year for a rural property.
Utilities
- Electricity: €1,200–€2,500/year (many Tuscan/Umbrian properties use electric water heating + some electric heating)
- Gas (bottled propane or LPG for rural off-grid properties): €800–€2,000/year
- Water: €300–€600/year (mains); many rural properties also use a pozzo (well)
- Internet/phone: €300–€600/year
Pool (if present)
Chemical treatment, heating, filtration, and maintenance: €1,500–€3,000/year
Insurance (assicurazione abitazione)
€600–€1,500/year for a stone rural property. Second-home rates are higher than primary-residence rates.
Condominio (if applicable — not usual for standalone rural property)
For standalone farmhouses: none. For properties within a rural condominium or borgo: €500–€2,000/year.
Annual maintenance budget
For a well-maintained stone farmhouse: 0.5–1% of property value per year. For a renovation project: budget 1–2% while works are ongoing.
approximately €10,000–€18,000/year.
Based on ADEME benchmarks, Agenzia delle Entrate and Olivings cost modelling
Last reviewed: Feb 2026