CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [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, 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					$ (1,585)	(1,585)		(1,585)
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)					26,000
Issuance of treasury stock		(8,657)			$ 8,657
Issuance of treasury stock (in shares)	(174,000)				(174,000)
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)	166,000
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (in shares)	(28,000)
Stock-based compensation		9,976				9,976		9,976
Dividend paid to stockholders				(10,710)		(10,710)	(101)	(10,811)
Dividend payable to stockholders				(10,719)		(10,719)		(10,719)
Net income (loss)				58,033		58,033	20	58,053
Other comprehensive income (loss)			(23,680)			(23,680)	90	(23,590)
Balance at May. 31, 2020	$ 3	455,889	(168,019)	562,408	$ (31,615)	818,666	937	819,603
Balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2020	31,425,000				776,000
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
Balance at Feb. 29, 2020	$ 3	452,858	(152,573)	549,703	$ (32,098)	817,893	974	$ 818,867
Balance (in shares) at Feb. 29, 2020	31,451,000				852,000
Purchase of treasury stock					$ (204)	(204)		(204)
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)					4,000
Issuance of treasury stock		(687)			$ 687
Issuance of treasury stock (in shares)	(80,000)				(80,000)
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)	57,000
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (in shares)	(3,000)
Stock-based compensation		3,718				3,718		3,718
Net income (loss)				12,705		12,705	(72)	12,633
Other comprehensive income (loss)			(15,446)			(15,446)	35	(15,411)
Balance at May. 31, 2020	$ 3	455,889	(168,019)	562,408	$ (31,615)	818,666	937	819,603
Balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2020	31,425,000				776,000
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					$ (2,574)	(2,574)		$ (2,574)
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)					27,000
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)	137,000
Forfeiture of restricted stock awards (in shares)	(3,000)
Stock-based compensation		13,221				13,221		13,221
Dividend paid to stockholders				(10,762)		(10,762)	(346)	(11,108)
Dividend payable to stockholders				(10,755)		(10,755)		(10,755)
Net income (loss)				78,502		78,502	223	78,725
Other comprehensive income (loss)			(548)			(548)	91	(457)
Balance at May. 31, 2021	$ 3	459,812	(177,368)	639,472	$ (23,116)	898,803	981	$ 899,784
Balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2021	31,456,000				678,000			30,777,829
Balance at Feb. 28, 2021	$ 3	454,881	(174,778)	616,943	$ (22,781)	874,268	983	$ 875,251
Balance (in shares) at Feb. 28, 2021	31,452,000				675,000
Purchase of treasury stock					$ (335)	(335)		(335)
Purchase of treasury stock (in shares)					3,000
Issuance of restricted stock award (in shares)	4,000
Stock-based compensation		4,931				4,931		4,931
Dividend paid to stockholders							(87)	(87)
Net income (loss)				22,529		22,529	52	22,581
Other comprehensive income (loss)			(2,590)			(2,590)	33	(2,557)
Balance at May. 31, 2021	$ 3	$ 459,812	$ (177,368)	$ 639,472	$ (23,116)	$ 898,803	$ 981	$ 899,784
Balance (in shares) at May. 31, 2021	31,456,000				678,000			30,777,829