CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total Stockholders' Equity Attributable To PriceSmart, Inc. [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance at Aug. 31, 2018	$ 3	$ 444,368	$ (121,216)	$ 473,954	$ (39,107)	$ 758,002	$ 636	$ 758,638
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2018	31,373,000				912,000
Purchase of treasury stock					$ (4,604)	(4,604)		(4,604)
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)					75,000
Issuance of treasury stock		(5,024)			$ 5,024
Issuance of treasury stock (in shares)	(63,000)				(63,000)
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)	178,000
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (in shares)	(27,000)
Stock-based compensation		15,512				15,512		15,512
Dividend paid to stockholders				(21,341)		(21,341)	(313)	(21,654)
Net income				73,191		73,191	298	73,489
Other comprehensive income (loss)			(23,123)			(23,123)	21	(23,102)
Other		(286)				(286)	286
Balance at Aug. 31, 2019	$ 3	454,570	(144,339)	525,804	$ (38,687)	797,351	928	798,279
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2019	31,461,000				924,000
Purchase of treasury stock					$ (3,651)	(3,651)		(3,651)
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)					57,000
Issuance of treasury stock		(13,932)			$ 13,932
Issuance of treasury stock (in shares)	(234,000)				(234,000)
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)	222,000
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (in shares)	(31,000)
Stock-based compensation		13,817				13,817		13,817
Dividend paid to stockholders				(21,426)		(21,426)	(101)	(21,527)
Net income				78,109		78,109	72	78,181
Other comprehensive income (loss)			(32,481)			(32,481)	114	(32,367)
Balance at Aug. 31, 2020	$ 3	454,455	(176,820)	582,487	$ (28,406)	831,719	1,013	$ 832,732
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2020	31,418,000				747,000			30,670,712
Purchase of treasury stock					$ (5,542)	(5,542)		$ (5,542)
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)					62,000
Issuance of treasury stock		(7,864)			$ 7,864
Issuance of treasury stock (in shares)	(96,000)				(96,000)
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)	154,000
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (in shares)	(8,000)
Stock-based compensation		18,424				18,424		18,424
Dividend paid to stockholders				(21,531)		(21,531)	(457)	(21,988)
Net income				97,963		97,963	196	98,159
Other comprehensive income (loss)			(5,688)			(5,688)	117	(5,571)
Balance at Aug. 31, 2021	$ 3	$ 465,015	$ (182,508)	$ 658,919	$ (26,084)	$ 915,345	$ 869	$ 916,214
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2021	31,468,000				713,000			30,755,308