CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total Stockholders' Equity Attributable To PriceSmart, Inc. [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance at Aug. 31, 2019	$ 3	$ 454,570	$ (144,339)	$ 525,804	$ (38,687)	$ 797,351	$ 928	$ 798,279
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2019	31,461,000				924,000
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 (loss)				19,728		19,728	(19)	19,709
Other comprehensive income (loss)			(3,185)			(3,185)	34	(3,151)
Balance at Nov. 30, 2019	$ 3	452,242	(147,524)	545,532	$ (33,424)	816,829	943	817,772
Balance (in shares) at Nov. 30, 2019	31,475,000				862,000
Balance at Aug. 31, 2019	$ 3	454,570	(144,339)	525,804	$ (38,687)	797,351	928	798,279
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2019	31,461,000				924,000
Balance at Aug. 31, 2020	$ 3	454,455	(176,820)	582,487	$ (28,406)	831,719	1,013	$ 832,732
Balance (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2020	31,418,000				747,000			30,670,712
Purchase of treasury stock					$ (526)	(526)		$ (526)
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)					7,000
Issuance of treasury stock		(7,864)			$ 7,864
Issuance of treasury stock (in shares)	(96,000)				(96,000)
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)	77,000
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (in shares)	(3,000)
Stock-based compensation		4,075				4,075		4,075
Net income (loss)				27,737		27,737	80	27,817
Other comprehensive income (loss)			3,162			3,162	31	3,193
Balance at Nov. 30, 2020	$ 3	$ 450,666	$ (173,658)	$ 610,224	$ (21,068)	$ 866,167	$ 1,124	$ 867,291
Balance (in shares) at Nov. 30, 2020	31,396,000				658,000			30,738,334