According to Expatisan, the cost of living in Sapporo is significantly cheaper than in Tokyo at 18%. The main contributor to this is housing costs, which are 47% cheaper in Sapporo than in Tokyo.

Yes, generally speaking, Hokkaido is significantly cheaper than Tokyo, particularly when it comes to the "big three" travel expenses: accommodation, dining, and transportation within the city. While Tokyo is one of the world's most expensive real estate markets, hotel prices in Sapporo or Hakodate are often 30% to 50% lower for comparable quality. Dining out in Hokkaido is also a bargain because the island is Japan's "food basket"; fresh seafood, dairy, and produce are sourced locally, cutting down on the middleman costs found in the capital. You can enjoy a high-end sushi meal or a bowl of world-class ramen for a fraction of what you would pay in Ginza or Shinjuku. However, there is a catch: travel to Hokkaido can be expensive if you don't book flights in advance, and winter sports in areas like Niseko can command premium "resort pricing" that rivals Tokyo’s luxury districts. Overall, for a standard traveler, your yen will go much further in the northern wilderness than in the neon-lit streets of the Kanto plain.