Collocations for subsistence - noun

bare, basic

agriculture, farming
farmer
economy
level
Most of the population lives at subsistence level.

needs
their family's basic subsistence needs

wage (esp. BrE)
She earns less than a subsistence wage at the mail-order company.

a level of subsistence
They were living barely above the level of subsistence.

means of subsistence
She had no means of subsistence and was dependent on charity.