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 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	$ 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
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
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
Balance at Aug. 31, 2019	$ 3	443,084	11,486	(144,339)	525,804	$ (38,687)	797,351	928	$ 798,279
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2019	31,461,000					924,000			30,538,788
Purchase of treasury stock						$ (461)	(461)		$ (461)
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)						7,000
Issuance of treasury stock		(5,724)				$ 5,724
Issuance of treasury stock (in shares)	(69,000)					(69,000)
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)	85,000
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (in shares)	(2,000)
Stock-based compensation		3,396					3,396		3,396
Net income					19,728		19,728	(19)	19,709
Other comprehensive income (loss)				(3,185)			(3,185)	34	(3,151)
Balance at Nov. 30, 2019	$ 3	$ 440,756	$ 11,486	$ (147,524)	$ 545,532	$ (33,424)	$ 816,829	$ 943	$ 817,772
Balance (in shares) at Nov. 30, 2019	31,475,000					862,000			30,612,511