SEGMENTS (Summary of Segment Revenues, Operating Costs and Balance Sheet Items) (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Nov. 30, 2018 USD ($) country warehouse		Nov. 30, 2017 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of stores | warehouse		41
Number of countries | country		12
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue		$ 779,637		$ 767,072
Depreciation, Property and equipment		13,124
Depreciation and amortization		13,723		12,237
Amortization, Intangibles		599
Operating income (loss)		24,670		33,166
Provision for income taxes		7,540		10,115
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		14,612	[1]	22,490
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		670,989		627,311	$ 657,062
Goodwill and other intangibles, net		60,600			61,300
Intangibles, net		14,381			14,980
Goodwill		46,248		35,578	46,329
Total assets		1,277,243		1,222,828	1,216,392
Capital expenditures, net		36,339		23,503
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest		33
United States Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue		17,339		8,147
Depreciation, Property and equipment		1,960
Depreciation and amortization				1,744
Amortization, Intangibles		599
Operating income (loss)		(1,050)		3,739
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		(3,825)	[1]	82
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		90,061		70,352	67,650
Intangibles, net		14,381			14,980
Goodwill		11,230			11,230
Total assets		158,591		121,674	186,174
Capital expenditures, net		1,686		1,004
Central American Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue		439,806		452,166
Depreciation, Property and equipment		5,870
Depreciation and amortization				5,523
Operating income (loss)		28,792		31,942
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		24,185	[1]	26,796
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		320,136		304,434	320,612
Goodwill		24,726		31,014	30,646
Total assets		592,114		580,523	536,756
Capital expenditures, net		22,771		11,370
Caribbean Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue	[2]	225,009		214,642
Depreciation, Property and equipment	[2]	3,191
Depreciation and amortization	[2]			2,677
Operating income (loss)	[2]	12,027		11,470
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.	[2]	9,985	[1]	10,317
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)	[2]	149,823		130,896	150,516
Goodwill	[2]	10,292		4,564	4,453
Total assets	[2]	346,397		334,279	310,411
Capital expenditures, net	[2]	10,495		10,297
Colombia Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue		97,483		92,117
Depreciation, Property and equipment		2,103
Depreciation and amortization				2,293
Operating income (loss)		3,416		2,145
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		2,815	[1]	1,425
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		110,969		121,629	118,284
Total assets		180,141		186,352	$ 183,051
Capital expenditures, net		$ 1,387		832
United States Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of countries | country		1
Intersegment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue	[3]	$ (352,527)		(341,533)
Intersegment [Member] | United States Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue		(350,719)		(340,128)
Intersegment [Member] | Central American Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue		(437)
Intersegment [Member] | Caribbean Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue	[2]	(1,093)		(1,207)
Intersegment [Member] | Colombia Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Revenue		(278)		(198)
Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Operating income (loss)	[3]	(18,515)		(16,130)
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.	[3]	(18,548)	[1]	$ (16,130)
Aeropost, Inc [Member]
Segment Reporting Information
Goodwill		11,230
Net income attributable to non-controlling interest		$ 3,900
Aeropost, Inc [Member] | Latin America [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of countries | country		38

[1] In March 2018, the Company acquired Aeropost, Inc. During the three months ended November 30, 2018, the consolidated net income attributable to PriceSmart Inc. contained approximately $3.9 million costs associated with Aeropost and omni-channel development initiatives.

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

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