ACQUISITION (Pro Forma Financial Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 31, 2018	Aug. 31, 2017
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Pro forma net income attributable to noncontrolling interest		$ 298	$ 75
Amortization		$ 2,404	1,120
Pro Forma [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Pro forma total revenues			3,197,307	$ 3,040,168
Pro forma net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.	[1]		67,734	82,587
Pro forma net income attributable to noncontrolling interest			444	$ 248
Amortization			2,100
Aeropost, Inc [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Remaining purchase price contingency			$ 3,800
Remaining period of the fifteen months		12 months
Period of employment from date of closing		15 months

[1] Includes the pro forma recognition of $3.0 million of post-combination compensation expense, which represents completion of twelve of the fifteen months of continued service required to satisfy the $3.8 million remaining purchase price contingency, and $2.1 million for the amortization of intangible assets for the twelve months ended August 31, 2018.