SEGMENTS (Summary of Segment Revenues, Operating Costs and Balance Sheet Items) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Nov. 30, 2021	Nov. 30, 2020	Aug. 31, 2021
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		$ 975,356	$ 877,432
Depreciation, Property and equipment		15,147	14,886
Amortization, Intangibles		456	599
Operating income (loss)		46,017	44,531
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		30,511	27,737
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		937,720	892,507	$ 931,503
Intangibles, net		1,922	9,566	7,762
Goodwill		43,332	45,123	45,095
Total assets		1,789,313	1,677,995	1,705,790
Capital expenditures, net		34,055	19,759
United States Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		13,423	23,617
Depreciation, Property and equipment		465	1,665
Amortization, Intangibles		456	599
Operating income (loss)		6,257	5,742
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		3,373	(372)
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		71,399	81,277	79,404
Intangibles, net		1,922	9,566	7,762
Goodwill		8,981	10,695	10,695
Total assets		212,371	212,434	246,896
Capital expenditures, net		1,909	1,218
Central American Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		572,065	494,692
Depreciation, Property and equipment		8,300	7,694
Operating income (loss)		43,379	34,445
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		35,900	29,238
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		495,517	472,892	490,099
Goodwill		24,313	24,317	24,332
Total assets		867,868	771,933	795,940
Capital expenditures, net		12,690	7,544
Caribbean Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[1]	272,487	258,516
Depreciation, Property and equipment	[1]	4,018	3,792
Operating income (loss)	[1]	19,878	21,594
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.	[1]	16,450	17,170
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)	[1]	203,042	178,879	197,030
Goodwill	[1]	10,038	10,111	10,068
Total assets	[1]	460,381	436,418	434,428
Capital expenditures, net	[1]	7,073	2,458
Colombia Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		117,381	100,607
Depreciation, Property and equipment		2,364	1,735
Operating income (loss)		6,378	5,565
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.		4,682	4,596
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)		167,762	159,459	164,970
Total assets		248,693	257,210	$ 228,526
Capital expenditures, net		12,383	8,539
Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[2]	(421,605)	(357,114)
Reconciling Items | United States Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		(414,342)	(350,103)
Reconciling Items | Central American Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		(4,998)	(4,736)
Reconciling Items | Caribbean Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue	[1]	(1,443)	(1,146)
Reconciling Items | Colombia Operations Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue		(822)	(1,129)
Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	[2]	(29,875)	(22,815)
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc.	[2]	$ (29,894)	$ (22,895)

[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.