SEGMENTS (Summary of Segment Revenues, Operating Costs and Balance Sheet Items) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		May 31, 2021	May 31, 2020	May 31, 2021	May 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2020
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 895,264	$ 799,931	$ 2,710,265	$ 2,518,607
Depreciation, Property and equipment		15,979	14,272	46,552	43,062
Amortization, Intangibles		606	607	1,798	1,805
Operating income (loss)		36,049	23,967	125,559	93,490
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		22,529	12,705	78,502	58,033
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		916,356	890,770	916,356	890,770	$ 880,780
Intangibles, net		8,368	10,772	8,368	10,772	10,166
Goodwill		45,142	45,316	45,142	45,316	45,206
Total assets		1,631,955	1,574,489	1,631,955	1,574,489	1,656,825
Capital expenditures, net		23,414	16,512	71,550	91,050
United States Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		21,237	15,852	67,622	52,039
Depreciation, Property and equipment		1,666	1,294	5,115	3,981
Amortization, Intangibles		606	607	1,798	1,805
Operating income (loss)		545	(1,115)	8,315	3,401
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		(2,388)	(3,785)	(4,306)	(5,350)
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		79,178	83,813	79,178	83,813	81,008
Intangibles, net		8,368	10,772	8,368	10,772	10,166
Goodwill		10,695	10,695	10,695	10,695	10,696
Total assets		202,770	224,682	202,770	224,682	272,190
Capital expenditures, net		3,334	1,446	6,052	5,564
Central American Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		531,595	452,927	1,567,287	1,442,336
Depreciation, Property and equipment		7,990	7,577	23,367	22,027
Operating income (loss)		38,313	27,606	113,120	96,972
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		32,700	22,724	94,247	79,815
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		484,039	481,942	484,039	481,942	475,744
Goodwill		24,359	24,484	24,359	24,484	24,418
Total assets		777,703	727,527	777,703	727,527	741,523
Capital expenditures, net		8,724	9,395	30,334	42,766
Caribbean Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[1]	243,468	250,304	762,153	747,004
Depreciation, Property and equipment	[1]	3,920	3,810	11,570	11,602
Operating income (loss)	[1]	17,240	13,547	59,600	40,436
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.	[1]	13,524	10,849	48,175	34,978
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)	[1]	189,873	181,578	189,873	181,578	177,166
Goodwill	[1]	10,088	10,137	10,088	10,137	10,092
Total assets	[1]	427,078	384,168	427,078	384,168	395,244
Capital expenditures, net	[1]	6,486	2,163	14,748	13,913
Colombia Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		98,964	80,848	313,203	277,228
Depreciation, Property and equipment		2,403	1,591	6,500	5,452
Operating income (loss)		5,135	3,487	17,139	13,411
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		3,929	2,403	13,224	9,340
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		163,266	143,437	163,266	143,437	146,862
Total assets		224,404	238,112	224,404	238,112	$ 247,868
Capital expenditures, net		4,870	3,508	20,416	28,807
Intersegment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[2]	(315,228)	(237,952)	(974,372)	(886,379)
Intersegment [Member] | United States Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		(309,261)	(230,826)	(955,619)	(868,137)
Intersegment [Member] | Central American Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		(4,305)	(4,791)	(12,842)	(12,745)
Intersegment [Member] | Caribbean Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[1]	(1,228)	(1,548)	(3,498)	(3,627)
Intersegment [Member] | Colombia Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		(434)	(787)	(2,413)	(1,870)
Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	[2]	(25,184)	(19,558)	(72,615)	(60,730)
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.	[2]	$ (25,236)	$ (19,486)	$ (72,838)	$ (60,750)

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

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