CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Tax Benefit From Stock Based Compensation [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total Stockholder's Equity Attributable To PriceSmart, Inc. [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance at Aug. 31, 2017	$ 3	$ 422,395	$ 11,486	$ (110,059)	$ 420,866	$ (35,924)	$ 708,767		$ 708,767
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2017	31,276,000					875,000
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)	3,000
Stock-based compensation		2,461					2,461		2,461
Net income					22,490		22,490		22,490
Other comprehensive income (loss)				(1,409)			(1,409)		(1,409)
Balance at Nov. 30, 2017	$ 3	424,856	11,486	(111,468)	443,356	$ (35,924)	732,309		732,309
Balance (in shares) at Nov. 30, 2017	31,279,000					875,000
Balance at Aug. 31, 2017	$ 3	422,395	11,486	(110,059)	420,866	$ (35,924)	708,767		708,767
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2017	31,276,000					875,000
Balance at Aug. 31, 2018	$ 3	432,882	11,486	(121,216)	473,954	$ (39,107)	758,002	$ 636	$ 758,638
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2018	31,373,000					912,000			30,460,353
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)	32,000
Stock-based compensation		6,046					6,046		$ 6,046
Net income					14,612		14,612	33	14,645
Other comprehensive income (loss)				(13,246)			(13,246)	1	(13,245)
Balance at Nov. 30, 2018	$ 3	$ 438,928	$ 11,486	$ (134,462)	$ 488,566	$ (39,107)	$ 765,414	$ 670	$ 766,084
Balance (in shares) at Nov. 30, 2018	31,405,000					912,000			30,492,624