An electrolyte for a rechargeable lithium battery that includes a lithium salt and a non-aqueous organic solvent, wherein the non-aqueous organic solvent includes a fluoro-based solvent represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the same. R—O—R′  Chemical Formula 1 In Chemical Formula 1, R and R′ are independently a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C6 alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C6 fluoroalkyl group, wherein at least one of R and R′ is the substituted or unsubstituted C1 to C6 fluoroalkyl group, and a substitution ratio of fluoro in the fluoro-based solvent represented by the Chemical Formula 1 may range from more than about 0% to less than or equal to about 50%.