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Tursi, Basilicata

Italy · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

65
Overall Score

Tursi is a historically rich town and comune in the province of Matera, nestled within the Basilicata region of southern Italy. Renowned for its ancient Moorish-origin quarter known as the Rabatana, the town clings dramatically to a steep clay ridge overlooking the Agri river valley. People are drawn to Tursi for its authentic southern Italian charm, slow-paced Mediterranean lifestyle, and deep historical roots that date back centuries. Surrounded by rolling hills, citrus groves, and olive orchards, it offers a peaceful sanctuary away from industrialized urban centers.

About Basilicata

Basilicata, a largely mountainous and sparsely populated region in Southern Italy, is known for its rugged natural beauty, ancient traditions, and a slower-paced lifestyle. The economy is primarily agricultural, focusing on wheat, olives, and wine, with a growing emphasis on tourism, particularly around Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site. While the climate varies from Mediterranean on the coasts to moderately continental in inland hilly and mountainous areas, residents experience all four seasons. The cost of living in Basilicata is generally lower than the Italian average, with affordable housing options, especially outside of major tourist hubs.

4,850
Population
$24K
Avg Salary
62
Cost Index
65.2
Quality Score
How this 65/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
Component Readings used Points Weight Contributes
Safety Safety score: 88 / 100 88.0 30% 26.4
Affordability Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 62.0 91.3 25% 22.8
Economy & jobs Median household income: $26,500 Income needed to live here: $20,000 Unemployment rate: 11.2% 32.8 20% 6.6
Growth Population growth rate: no usable reading Job growth rate: 0.4% 28.0 15% 4.2
Business climate assessment Business climate assessment: 52 / 100 52.0 10% 5.2
Overall score 65.2

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 2 (reasoned) (q=54, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 16 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

Businesses in Tursi

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Quality Scores

Business
52
Livability
76
Affordability
90
Growth
55

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Tursi is significantly lower than both the national Italian average and major European hubs, making it an attractive destination for retirees and remote workers. Everyday expenses such as locally grown produce, wine, dining out, and basic services are remarkably affordable. While imported goods and utilities can match broader national pricing trends, the low cost of housing heavily reduces overall monthly living expenses.

Average Rent
$480/mo
Groceries
$320/mo
Transport
$90/mo
Utilities
$160/mo
Healthcare
$110/mo
Gym membership (monthly)
$40.00
Cinema ticket
$9.00
Restaurant meal (mid-range)
$18.00
Monthly groceries
$300.00
Doctor visit (without insurance)
$50.00

Salary Insights

Tursi's local economy is largely driven by traditional agriculture, particularly the cultivation of citrus fruits like the famous local oranges, as well as olive oil production and viticulture. Tourism plays a growing role as travelers discover the architectural and cultural heritage of the Rabatana and nearby landscapes. However, high-paying corporate jobs are scarce locally, leading many younger residents to commute to nearby urban centers like Matera or Potenza, or engage in remote work.

The average salary in Tursi is $24,000 per year. You would need approximately $20,000 to live comfortably.

Top Industries

Tourism & Hospitality +2.10% Public Administration & Services +0.10% Retail & Local Commerce +0.80% Agriculture & Viticulture +0.50% Construction & Trades +1.00%

Climate

🌡️
17°C
Avg Temp
☀️
34°C
Summer High
❄️
4°C
Winter Low
🌧️
25.40"
Annual Rain
💧
62.00%
Humidity
🌤️
290
Sunny Days

Transport

Getting around Tursi heavily relies on personal automobiles due to the rugged topography and rural setting of the surrounding Basilicata region. While the town core is walkable with narrow historic stairways and pathways, public transit connections to regional hubs are limited. Driving provides the easiest access to neighboring towns, regional beaches along the Ionian Sea, and major highways.

18 min
Avg Commute
35.00/10
Transit Score
65.00/10
Walkability
High
Car Dependency

Pros & Cons

Advantages
Significantly lower cost of housing and daily living expenses compared to northern Italy and major Western European cities
Rich historical heritage highlighted by the iconic Moorish Rabatana district and stunning architecture
Abundant sunshine with approximately 290 sunny days per year and a mild Mediterranean climate
Exceptionally low crime rates and a strong sense of community safety throughout the town
Proximity to both scenic inland mountains and the beautiful beaches of the Ionian coast
Drawbacks
Limited local job market with heavy reliance on agriculture, tourism, and small-scale retail
High dependency on personal vehicles due to infrequent and sparse regional public transportation
Outmigration of younger residents leading to an aging local demographic profile
Scarcity of advanced local healthcare facilities, requiring travel to neighboring cities for specialized medical care
Language barrier for non-Italian speakers, as English is not widely spoken outside of younger demographics

Questions about Tursi

What people ask about living in and moving to Tursi, Basilicata.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The consumer market basket tracks everyday necessities, including staple grocery items (such as milk, bread, eggs, and produce), residential energy bills (electricity, gas, and water), public and private transit costs, routine outpatient medical care, and standard consumer goods and services to ensure a representative monthly budget.

Even in close geographic proximity, local tax jurisdictions, municipal utility rates, zoning laws, and micro-housing markets can create wide cost discrepancies. For example, a city with strict land-use regulations or higher local sales taxes will typically exhibit elevated housing and consumer goods costs compared to an adjacent county with looser zoning and lower tax burdens.

Even in close geographic proximity, local tax jurisdictions, municipal utility rates, zoning laws, and micro-housing markets can create wide cost discrepancies. For example, a city with strict land-use regulations or higher local sales taxes will typically exhibit elevated housing and consumer goods costs compared to an adjacent county with looser zoning and lower tax burdens.

Local tax climates significantly shift a city's affordability score by directly affecting disposable income. Urblytica factors in state income tax brackets, local municipal property tax millage rates, and combined sales taxes to measure the true tax drag on median household earnings.

Core economic indexes and consumer price metrics undergo a comprehensive quarterly recalibration. This update cycle integrates the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) releases, municipal utility rate adjustments, and regional housing data feeds to ensure all index comparisons reflect current economic conditions.

Housing is weighted as the single largest component in Urblytica's cost-of-living algorithm, typically accounting for roughly 30% to 35% of the composite score. It incorporates both median monthly gross rent and median single-family home purchase prices relative to local median income levels.

Normalization involves adjusting raw economic inputs against localized purchasing power parities (PPPs) and population-weighted density scales. This ensures fair, apples-to-apples comparisons between dense metropolitan hubs and smaller suburban or rural towns.

Utility indexing applies a rolling annual average that captures seasonal climate variations, such as increased summer air conditioning loads in southern climates or heavier winter heating demands in northern regions, providing a realistic year-round average utility expense.

Remote workers leverage the index to calculate real purchasing power parity when moving from a high-cost-of-living area to a lower-cost region. By comparing index differentials against their fixed salary, users can determine if their net savings and lifestyle quality will improve post-relocation.

While the raw Cost of Living Index measures pure expense levels, it is frequently paired with Urblytica’s local wage index and median household income benchmarks. This combined view highlights whether local salaries keep pace with local consumer goods and housing expenses.

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