Low-carbon economic development is characterized by low resource and energy consumption and low environmental pollution. This model has received enthusiastic response from all walks of life since it was first proposed in 2003. Since its development, the low-carbon economy has been gradually applied by many countries in the world. At this stage, China's market economy has achieved vigorous development, but it has been accompanied by serious environmental problems. At present, China's environment is showing a vicious development trend, which has seriously hindered the healthy development of the market economy. Therefore, China's economic development model has also begun to transform to a low-carbon economy. Only by fully implementing the low-carbon economic development model can China effectively reduce the level of environmental pollution and promote the long-term development of China's economy. By comparing the correlation between low-carbon economic development and social economic structure in ten coastal cities and ten inland cities in China, this paper proves the promotion role of low-carbon economy in the upgrading and transformation of social economic structure.