The study of the association between the socioecological system and people's subjective well-being (SWB) is crucial to improve residents' lives and achieve balanced regional development. However, it is challenging to quantitatively identify the specific association path and the contributions of both social and ecological factors to residents' SWB. In this study, we construct a framework for research on associations with SWB from a socioecological perspective. A resource-based city in rapid transition, Wuhai, China, was chosen as the research area. The effects of social characteristics and ecosystem services on residents' SWB were analyzed using questionnaires and multilevel linear models under different matching conditions of ecosystem services supply and demand. The results show differences in residents' SWB among different ecosystem service supply and demand zones. The contribution rates of social characteristics and ecosystem services to SWB differences were 93.98% and 6.02%, respectively. Compared with the SWB of urban residents, that of residents in suburban and rural areas is more affected by ecosystem services. In addition, provisioning services have a more significant association with residents' SWB than regulating services, especially for elderly and low-income people. The results show that in resource-based cities undergoing rapid transformation, the government should protect essential ecosystem services and focus on improving the employment and education levels of rural residents to effectively enhance their SWB and ensure the stable development of the socioecological system. •Quantify the impact of social-ecological system on subjective well-beings (SWB).•Construct the social ecological framework of influencing factors of SWB.•SWB are significantly different in different ecosystem services conditions.•Social system has a greater impact on SWB than ecological system.•Income, age and ecological consciousness all have an impact on residents' SWB.