SEGMENTS (Summary of Segment Revenues, Operating Costs and Balance Sheet Items) (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended													12 Months Ended
		Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($) country warehouse	May 31, 2019 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2019 USD ($)	[1]	Nov. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($)	May 31, 2018 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2018 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($)	May 31, 2017 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2017 USD ($)	Nov. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2019 USD ($) country warehouse		Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($)		Aug. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of stores | warehouse		43													43
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue															$ 3,223,918		$ 3,166,702		$ 2,996,628
Depreciation, Property and equipment															52,554		51,520		46,292
Amortization, Intangibles															2,404		1,120
Operating income (loss)															115,167		126,052		136,229
Interest income from intersegment sources															1,489		1,415		1,809
Interest expense from intersegment sources															3,939		5,072		6,777
Provision for income taxes															37,560		48,177		42,018
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		$ 20,673	$ 14,096	$ 23,810		$ 14,612	$ 18,996	$ 18,694	$ 14,148	$ 22,490	$ 19,798	$ 18,838	$ 27,219	$ 24,869	73,191	[2]	74,328	[2]	90,724
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		730,365					657,062				616,090				730,365		657,062		616,090
Intangibles, net		12,576					14,980								12,576		14,980
Goodwill		46,101					46,329				35,642				46,101		46,329		35,642
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates		10,697					10,758				10,765				10,697		10,758		10,765
Total assets		1,296,411					1,216,392				1,177,514				1,296,411		1,216,392		1,177,514
Capital expenditures, net															145,667		95,850		137,024
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest															298		75
United States Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue															68,335		57,445		34,244
Depreciation, Property and equipment															5,334		7,373		6,653
Amortization, Intangibles															2,404		1,120
Operating income (loss)															3,805		2,016		10,436
Interest income from intersegment sources															74		25		13
Interest expense from intersegment sources															1,377		1,465		762
Provision for income taxes															11,280		19,977		9,560
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.															(8,518)	[2]	(19,811)	[2]	3,893
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		65,278					67,650				70,353				65,278		67,650		70,353
Intangibles, net		12,576					14,980								12,576		14,980
Goodwill		11,315					11,230								11,315		11,230
Total assets		161,583					164,008				147,650				161,583		164,008		147,650
Capital expenditures, net															8,439		2,252		56,229
Central American Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue															1,831,761		1,839,810		1,789,889
Depreciation, Property and equipment															24,684		23,391		20,252
Operating income (loss)															122,629		130,849		134,826
Interest income from intersegment sources															499		487		914
Interest expense from intersegment sources															2,368		3,210		4,127
Provision for income taxes															19,429		20,767		23,368
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.															100,614	[2]	107,401	[2]	107,797
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		383,665					320,612				296,915				383,665		320,612		296,915
Goodwill		24,593					24,903				25,375				24,593		24,903		25,375
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates		10,697					10,758				10,765				10,697		10,758		10,765
Total assets		614,579					550,874				544,683				614,579		550,874		544,683
Capital expenditures, net															85,962		50,982		50,977
Caribbean Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue	[3]														933,886		879,423		827,920
Depreciation, Property and equipment	[3]														14,052		11,596		10,205
Operating income (loss)	[3]														50,724		48,383		47,190
Interest income from intersegment sources	[3]														568		767		740
Interest expense from intersegment sources	[3]														(401)		(353)		548
Provision for income taxes	[3]														6,615		5,624		7,654
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.	[3]														44,168	[2]	44,178	[2]	38,403
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)	[3]	165,584					150,516				122,616				165,584		150,516		122,616
Goodwill	[3]	10,193					10,196				10,267				10,193		10,196		10,267
Total assets	[3]	340,216					318,837				303,234				340,216		318,837		303,234
Capital expenditures, net	[3]														28,434		39,379		26,586
Colombia Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue															389,936		390,024		344,575
Depreciation, Property and equipment															8,484		9,160		9,182
Operating income (loss)															14,909		12,086		4,932
Interest income from intersegment sources															348		136		142
Interest expense from intersegment sources															595		750		1,340
Provision for income taxes															236		1,809		1,436
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.															14,124	[2]	9,917	[2]	1,786
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		115,838					118,284				126,206				115,838		118,284		126,206
Total assets		$ 180,033					$ 182,673				$ 181,947				180,033		182,673		181,947
Capital expenditures, net															22,832		3,237		3,232
Intersegment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue	[4]														(1,223,176)		(1,189,995)		(1,143,432)
Interest income from intersegment sources	[4]														(4,009)		(2,722)		(2,167)
Interest expense from intersegment sources	[4]														(3,705)		(2,637)		(2,172)
Intersegment [Member] | United States Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue															(1,205,986)		(1,184,530)		(1,138,526)
Interest income from intersegment sources															1,408		747		739
Interest expense from intersegment sources															60		16		42
Intersegment [Member] | Central American Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue															(11,185)
Interest income from intersegment sources															1,877		1,245		882
Interest expense from intersegment sources															1,505		1,042		1,106
Intersegment [Member] | Caribbean Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue	[3]														(4,507)		(4,472)		(4,796)
Interest income from intersegment sources	[3]														724		730		546
Interest expense from intersegment sources	[3]														2,132		1,576		990
Intersegment [Member] | Colombia Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue															(1,498)		(993)		(110)
Interest expense from intersegment sources															8		3		34
Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Operating income (loss)	[4]														(76,900)		(67,282)		(61,155)
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.	[4]														(77,197)	[2]	$ (67,357)	[2]	$ (61,155)
Marketplace And Casillero Store Front [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest															$ (14,500)
Foreign Countries [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of countries | country		12													12
Domestic Territories [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of countries | country		1													1

[1] In the second quarter of fiscal year 2018, the Company recorded its provisional tax estimate of $13.4 million as a result of the U.S. Tax Reform Transition Tax. The Company finalized its calculation of this Transition Tax in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018, reducing it to approximately $12.5 million.

[2] In March 2018, the Company acquired technology, talent and cross-border logistics infrastructure that operated a marketplace and casillero business. Investments in the technology, talent and infrastructure to expand our omni-channel capabilities, together with the operating results from the marketplace and casillero business, negatively impacted Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. $14.5 million for the twelve months ended August 31, 2019. Management considers this business to be part of its United States operations.

[3] Management considers its club in the U.S. Virgin Islands to be part of its Caribbean operations.

[4] The reconciling items reflect the amount eliminated on consolidation of intersegment transactions.