"live poorly" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, you could say: "The family lived poorly, barely scraping by and struggling to make ends meet."
Scott and Zelda lived poorly on a great deal of money; the Murphys lived extremely well on considerably less.
"There, in St . Petersburg we lived poorly, but to the full," continued the headmaster, Ilya, who like other Russians in the article would give only his first name.
A student, living poorly and trying to recover from a love affair, she is spotted by Ludwig and enlisted as witness and recorder of the dogs' fate.
As you increase your satisfaction, you may find yourself living on less monetary income, but don't let it frighten you: it does not have to mean living poorly.
We have to live with poorly lighted mobile phone selfies.
Some people live so poorly here it was a no-brainer to go; no restrictions would stop them, and they went.
She turned up Shaft Hollow, where many people live in poorly built houses once owned by a coal company, their roofs sagging and the porches without railings.
The population there is also highly vulnerable, adds Cloke, because many people live in poorly built houses, which are easily damaged by extreme weather.
