I am wondering if there is a way to move an object by an exact value. perhaps to have it snap to a set distance.

I know there are some snap setting in the document properties, but these do not do what I'm looking for. Those snap to a grid or a guide, and annoyingly require fiddling with a menu to activate or deactivate.
I would need to move an object that would be an arbitrary distance away from a grid point or guide, and I would want to to always be that exact same arbitrary distance away from the grid.
I would also want to move an object exactly parallel to its original position.

So for example, maybe I want to move an object exactly 200 pixels to the left, not 201 and not 199.5, and not move it up nor down.

I am creating patterns that need to tile, and the further off an object is, the worse it will look.

There are many possibilities.

Moving an object horizontally/vertically: hold Ctrl while dragging with the mouse.

Want to move exactly 200 pixels with one step, many times?
Open the inkscape preferences (Shift+Ctrl+P) and set 200 px from the default 2 px, and use the arrow keys to move the object.
Other particular point to be snap-able on an object?
Group it with a transparent rectangle that has it's corner at the desired point.
Work in outlines only display mode for example to help finding it.
Then, after all is done you can use the search panel (Ctrl+F) to select all these transparent placeholders at once, and delete them.