“养家费”常见的英文表达是 “family support allowance” 或 “breadwinner's earnings for family maintenance” ，不过更简洁常用、能直接传达核心意思的说法是 “family expenses” （这里指用于维持家庭生计、养家糊口的费用，虽不严格等同但日常交流中可灵活使用） ，或者更口语化表达为 “money to support the family” 。
例如：
He works hard to earn a family support allowance.（他努力工作以赚取养家费。 ）
My salary is mainly used to cover family expenses.（我的工资主要用于支付养家费。 ）
He gives most of his earnings to his family as money to support the family.（他把大部分收入都作为养家费给了家人。 ）