Joanna has some of Scala's "slabbiness," although it's more feminine overall

It's part of the Adobe Type Library, and may have been bundled with various apps over the years.

http://adobe.com/type/browser/P/P_1216.html

But if they like Scala, it's only $40 per weight, or $139 for the whole family.

http://www.fontshop.com/?fuseaction=catalog.fontpackage&searchby=manufac...

> This is what my client likes, but they have zero budget to buy the fonts, but there must be a more common alternative that’s close to it.

There are so many contradictions in that one sentence... :^)

There is no default font that comes close to FF Scala Sans.

If you squint, Gill comes close.

Let's rattle off all the humanist sans that are somewhat close to Scala Sans:

Gill Sans
Syntax
Today
Bliss
Mundo
Agenda
Charlotte
Legato
Freight Sans
Kievit

etc..... I've excluded any that really aren't close, like Cronos, Frutiger, Formata, and Chianti.

Your problem isn't that you need an alternative, it's that you need a budget. If they don't want to pay, you could:

- Buy yourself the best Humanist Sans family for your general needs, and use that, since it will have to be close enough

- Buy Scala Sans for yourself and use it for this job, and every other job you can get away with it since it's so trendy and desirable

- institute a policy that you will always keep a healthy budget for type in future jobs as part of your expenses

Doh! I missed "sans" in the title. Obviously, Joanna's not going to work. :)