Background: Metal stents for unresectable pancreatic cancer are associated with longer patency and superior cost-effectiveness. However, they are too expensive to be recommended routinely in developing countries. Moreover, a debate on outcome results in these patients who receive plastic biliary endoprothesis versus surgical bypass as palliation of obstructive jaundice. We aimed to compare retrospectively the outcomes in patients treated with plastic stent or surgical bypass as a palliative option for these patients. Patients and Methods: We have examined data for patients (n = 86) who received endoscopic stenting (n = 64) or surgical bypass (n = 22), from January 2013 to November 2016, as a palliative treatment for obstructive jaundice from inoperable cancer head pancreas. Results: Serum bilirubin and CA19.9 levels were comparable in age and gender matched patient groups. Moreover, post-operative major complications and 30-days mortality showed no significant differences among patient groups. However, surgical bypass treated patients showed longer initial hospital stay (9 vs. 6 days, p = 0.014), higher cost ($1600 vs. $1088) and longer survival (192 vs. 101 days, p = 0.003) compared to endoscopy-stenting treated patients. Re-hospitalization was required for 5 stented patients (averaged $448). Conclusion: Biliary bypass surgery for unresectable pancreatic cancer may improve patient survival, although prolongs hospital stay. It may be recommended for relatively fit patients with a life expectancy of 6 months and more.