QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Schedule of Quarterly Financial Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended														12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2020	May 31, 2020	Feb. 29, 2020		Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2019	May 31, 2019	Feb. 28, 2019	Nov. 30, 2018	Aug. 31, 2018	May 31, 2018	Feb. 28, 2018		Nov. 30, 2017	Aug. 31, 2020	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 31, 2018
QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) [Abstract]
Total revenues	$ 810,581	$ 799,931	$ 906,735		$ 811,941	$ 801,300	$ 788,556	$ 854,425	$ 779,637	$ 777,866	$ 782,201	$ 839,563		$ 767,072	$ 3,329,188	$ 3,223,918	$ 3,166,702
Total cost of goods sold	670,902	672,756	756,174		674,946	663,766	661,887	716,858	653,180	650,801	652,694	708,040		644,985	2,774,778	2,695,691	2,656,520
Net income attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.	$ 20,076	$ 12,705	$ 25,600	[1]	$ 19,728	$ 20,673	$ 14,096	$ 23,810	$ 14,612	$ 18,996	$ 18,694	$ 14,148	[1]	$ 22,490	$ 78,109	$ 73,191	$ 74,328
Basic net income per share	$ 0.65	$ 0.41	$ 0.85		$ 0.64	$ 0.67	$ 0.46	$ 0.79	$ 0.48	$ 0.62	$ 0.61	$ 0.47		$ 0.74	$ 2.55	$ 2.40	$ 2.44
Diluted net income per share	$ 0.65	$ 0.41	$ 0.85		$ 0.64	$ 0.67	$ 0.46	$ 0.79	$ 0.48	$ 0.62	$ 0.61	$ 0.47		$ 0.74	$ 2.55	$ 2.40	$ 2.44
Provisional tax estimate										$ 12,500		$ 13,400

[1] In the second quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company recorded its provisional tax estimate of $13.4 million as a result of the U.S. Tax Reform Transition Tax. The Company finalized its calculation of this Transition Tax in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018, reducing it to approximately $12.5 million.