Abstract: Objective To evaluate the quality of life (QOL) of urban poverty with the application of disease specturm.Methods We searched studies which evaluated QOL of people by SF-36 Health Survey and established the disease spectrum for QOL evaluation.The QOL of the urban poverty was investigated and the QOL on the corresponding grade of the disease spectrum was determined for QOL evaluation.Results The QOL of the group with low-income and without welfare located at 3rd grade of the disease spectrum;the low-income group with welfare guoup located at 1st grade of the disease spectrum.The new urban poverty group located at 2nd grade of the disease spectrum,and traditional poverty group located at 1st graed of the disease spectrum.The QOL of urban poverty corresponded to the QOL of the group with serious diesases.Conclusion The decline of the QOL in urban poverty is similar to the decline of the QOL in people with serious disease.The disease spectrum is a new frame of reference for evaluation of the QOL.