SEGMENTS (Summary of Segment Revenues, Operating Costs and Balance Sheet Items) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		May 31, 2022	May 31, 2021	May 31, 2022	May 31, 2021	Aug. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 1,030,810	$ 895,264	$ 3,044,723	$ 2,710,265
Depreciation, Property and equipment		17,169	15,979	49,034	46,552
Amortization, Intangibles		388	606	1,224	1,798
Operating income (loss)		33,762	36,049	128,101	125,559
Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. per share available for distribution:		19,258	22,529	81,230	78,502
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		969,403	916,356	969,403	916,356	$ 931,503
Intangibles, net		1,153	8,368	1,153	8,368	7,762
Goodwill		43,347	45,142	43,347	45,142	45,095
Total assets		1,791,763	1,631,955	1,791,763	1,631,955	1,705,790
Capital expenditures, net		31,182	23,414	98,572	71,550
United States Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		13,396	21,237	36,102	67,622
Depreciation, Property and equipment		1,355	1,666	3,361	5,115
Amortization, Intangibles		388	606	1,224	1,798
Operating income (loss)		2,821	545	17,377	8,315
Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. per share available for distribution:		(442)	(2,388)	6,106	(4,306)
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		70,322	79,178	70,322	79,178	79,404
Intangibles, net		1,153	8,368	1,153	8,368	7,762
Goodwill		8,982	10,695	8,982	10,695	10,695
Total assets		201,571	202,770	201,571	202,770	246,896
Capital expenditures, net		197	3,334	3,404	6,052
Central American Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		599,132	531,595	1,785,017	1,567,287
Depreciation, Property and equipment		8,688	7,990	25,586	23,367
Operating income (loss)		39,458	38,313	128,889	113,120
Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. per share available for distribution:		34,011	32,700	108,661	94,247
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		494,086	484,039	494,086	484,039	490,099
Goodwill		24,316	24,359	24,316	24,359	24,332
Total assets		844,844	777,703	844,844	777,703	795,940
Capital expenditures, net		11,851	8,724	37,902	30,334
Caribbean Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[1]	294,785	243,468	860,953	762,153
Depreciation, Property and equipment	[1]	4,408	3,920	12,449	11,570
Operating income (loss)	[1]	19,163	17,240	60,796	59,600
Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. per share available for distribution:	[1]	14,903	13,524	48,977	48,175
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)	[1]	218,365	189,873	218,365	189,873	197,030
Goodwill	[1]	10,049	10,088	10,049	10,088	10,068
Total assets	[1]	478,008	427,078	478,008	427,078	434,428
Capital expenditures, net	[1]	10,695	6,486	32,742	14,748
Colombia Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		123,497	98,964	362,651	313,203
Depreciation, Property and equipment		2,718	2,403	7,638	6,500
Operating income (loss)		4,652	5,135	17,154	17,139
Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. per share available for distribution:		3,118	3,929	13,620	13,224
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		186,630	163,266	186,630	163,266	164,970
Total assets		267,340	224,404	267,340	224,404	$ 228,526
Capital expenditures, net		8,439	4,870	24,524	20,416
Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[2]	(360,721)	(315,228)	(1,162,006)	(974,372)
Reconciling Items | United States Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		(351,404)	(309,261)	(1,138,283)	(955,619)
Reconciling Items | Central American Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		(6,223)	(4,305)	(16,251)	(12,842)
Reconciling Items | Caribbean Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[1]	(1,706)	(1,228)	(4,483)	(3,498)
Reconciling Items | Colombia Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		(1,388)	(434)	(2,989)	(2,413)
Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	[2]	(32,332)	(25,184)	(96,115)	(72,615)
Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc. per share available for distribution:	[2]	$ (32,332)	$ (25,236)	$ (96,134)	$ (72,838)

[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.