@papayalily: Tough to do much indoors. During the summer, most plants that belong outside will eventually get white flies or spider mites if left inside. The easiest would be a pot of chives on a sunny windowsill. Snip them often to get new growth.
If you can get some mint cuttings from somewhere, you can put them in water and they will sprout roots really fast. I found my favorite spearmint growing wild by a roadside.
Large indoor planters (preferably clay or ceramic) are going to be expensive, I am sorry to say. But they will last for a long time.
Can you ask your neighbors if they would like to go in on a little outdoor herb garden? You can share the labor and share the fruits of your labor.