SEGMENTS (Summary of Segment Revenues, Operating Costs and Balance Sheet Items) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Nov. 30, 2020	Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2020
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 877,432	$ 811,941
Depreciation, Property and equipment		14,886	14,214
Amortization, Intangibles		599	599
Operating income (loss)		44,531	30,714
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		27,737	19,728
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		892,507	877,043	$ 880,780
Intangibles, net		9,566	11,977	10,166
Goodwill		45,123	45,425	45,206
Total assets		1,677,995	1,524,111	1,656,825
Capital expenditures, net		19,759	41,226
United States Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		23,617	17,339
Depreciation, Property and equipment		1,665	1,348
Amortization, Intangibles		599	599
Operating income (loss)		5,742	2,587
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		(372)	(724)
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		81,277	84,117	81,008
Intangibles, net		9,566	11,977	10,166
Goodwill		10,695	10,695	10,696
Total assets		212,434	168,375	272,190
Capital expenditures, net		1,218	629
Central American Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		494,692	466,802
Depreciation, Property and equipment		7,694	6,882
Operating income (loss)		34,445	31,700
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		29,238	26,751
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		472,892	471,366	475,744
Goodwill		24,317	24,532	24,418
Total assets		771,933	754,364	741,523
Capital expenditures, net		7,544	15,243
Caribbean Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[1]	258,516	235,017
Depreciation, Property and equipment	[1]	3,792	3,966
Operating income (loss)	[1]	21,594	11,810
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.	[1]	17,170	10,318
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)	[1]	178,879	177,742	177,166
Goodwill	[1]	10,111	10,198	10,092
Total assets	[1]	436,418	369,575	395,244
Capital expenditures, net	[1]	2,458	4,520
Colombia Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		100,607	92,783
Depreciation, Property and equipment		1,735	2,018
Operating income (loss)		5,565	4,524
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		4,596	3,271
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		159,459	143,818	146,862
Total assets		257,210	231,797	$ 247,868
Capital expenditures, net		8,539	20,834
Intersegment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[2]	(357,114)	(355,733)
Intersegment [Member] | United States Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		(350,103)	(349,950)
Intersegment [Member] | Central American Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		(4,736)	(4,045)
Intersegment [Member] | Caribbean Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[1]	(1,146)	(1,202)
Intersegment [Member] | Colombia Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		(1,129)	(536)
Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	[2]	(22,815)	(19,907)
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.	[2]	$ (22,895)	$ (19,888)

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

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