1,543. The Amount of a Wife's Allotted Sustenance

Hilchos Ishus 12:10

The amount designated for a woman’s sustenance is bread for two meals every day according to the local practice for the average healthy person. This amount is made according to the type of bread normally eaten in that location – wheat, barley, rice, millet, etc. She is likewise entitled to the foods that are eaten with bread like beans, vegetables, etc., as well as oil for food and for lamp fuel, fruit and wine, assuming that the local practice is for women to drink wine. On Shabbos, she is entitled to three meals, including meat or fish according to the local practice. She also receives a maah (a denomination) of silver for her personal needs, such as a prutah for laundry or the bath, etc.

Hilchos Ishus 12:11

The above amounts apply to a needy husband; if a husband is affluent, he must support his wife according to his means. If he is well-off enough to provide her with several meat dishes each day, then he must do so. A wife is entitled to support commensurate with her husband’s funds. If he is absolutely impoverished and unable to provide her even with bread, he can be compelled to divorce her. He remains obligated to pay her the value of her kesubah until he finds the means to pay it off.