Unaffordable housing contributed to a decline in the quality of life last year, giving it the third-worst score, behind 2009 and 2002. 'Hong Kong's general economy has improved. Our GDP has risen in the past few years, but it did not lead to improvements in the quality of life,' said Ng Sai-leung, director of the university's Centre for Quality of Life.

He urged the government to improve the situation by distributing resources more evenly.

'The government may think that everything's fine when the economy and property market are fine. But is it that simple?'

Ng expects the situation to get even worse this year as there are no signs of improvement in the two areas that put the biggest drag on last year's score - the cost of renting and buying a home.

Home prices have been soaring and, in March, surpassed their previous record level in 1997.

Government figures cited by the Chinese University researchers show an average 400 sq ft flat in an urban area would cost around HK$3 million, and it would take an average family with a monthly income of between HK$20,000 and HK$30,000 nearly 11-and-a-half years to earn enough money to purchase it.

Chong Tai-leung, an associate professor of economics at the university, said a housing affordability index of five would be healthy.

'Life is hard for those who don't own any properties. They are earning money but they couldn't spend as much on daily necessities [because of high rent],' he said.

The Quality of Life Index, designed by the university's faculty of social sciences, consists of 21 indicators grouped into three sectors.

Social indicators carry the heaviest weight as 10 of them are included, then there are seven economic indicators and four environmental indicators.

The indicators are calculated based on government figures and surveys conducted by the university.