SEGMENTS (Schedule of Segment Revenues, Operating Costs and Balance Sheet Items) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2023	Feb. 28, 2022	Feb. 28, 2023	Feb. 28, 2022	Aug. 31, 2022
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	$ 1,142,189	$ 1,038,557	$ 2,196,995	$ 2,013,913
Depreciation, Property and equipment	17,494	16,718	34,678	31,865
Amortization, Intangibles	381	380	765	836
Operating income (loss)	53,800	48,322	109,327	94,339
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.	31,347	31,461	64,252	61,972
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)	978,318	962,457	978,318	962,457	$ 963,162
Goodwill	43,185	43,334	43,185	43,334	43,303
Total assets	1,886,172	1,773,330	1,886,172	1,773,330	1,808,400
Capital expenditures, net	28,404	33,335	53,823	67,390
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates					10,534
Operating segments | United ‎States ‎Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	6,882	8,722	17,340	22,706
Depreciation, Property and equipment	1,478	1,541	2,856	2,006
Amortization, Intangibles	381	380	765	836
Operating income (loss)	6,964	8,299	20,556	14,556
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.	1,279	3,176	7,104	6,548
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)	74,226	75,543	74,226	75,543	71,743
Goodwill	8,981	8,982	8,981	8,982	8,981
Total assets	221,076	191,677	221,076	191,677	230,411
Capital expenditures, net	3,338	1,298	8,829	3,207
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates					0
Operating segments | Central ‎American ‎Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	694,210	614,381	1,323,289	1,185,885
Depreciation, Property and equipment	8,925	8,598	17,724	16,898
Amortization, Intangibles	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	56,633	46,052	106,763	89,431
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.	46,442	38,750	88,448	74,650
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)	524,474	497,585	524,474	497,585	498,204
Goodwill	24,149	24,309	24,149	24,309	24,250
Total assets	959,064	860,718	959,064	860,718	867,898
Capital expenditures, net	16,067	13,361	28,311	26,051
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates					10,534
Operating segments | Caribbean Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	332,306	293,680	639,831	566,168
Depreciation, Property and equipment	4,792	4,023	9,423	8,041
Amortization, Intangibles	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	25,474	21,755	49,977	41,633
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.	20,424	17,624	39,708	34,074
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)	209,684	212,418	209,684	212,418	218,021
Goodwill	10,055	10,043	10,055	10,043	10,072
Total assets	474,637	463,236	474,637	463,236	474,411
Capital expenditures, net	3,968	14,974	7,369	22,047
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates					0
Operating segments | Colombia Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	108,791	121,774	216,535	239,154
Depreciation, Property and equipment	2,299	2,556	4,675	4,920
Amortization, Intangibles	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	4,662	6,124	9,530	12,502
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.	3,135	5,819	6,491	10,502
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)	169,934	176,911	169,934	176,911	175,194
Goodwill	0	0	0	0	0
Total assets	231,395	257,699	231,395	257,699	235,680
Capital expenditures, net	5,031	3,702	9,314	16,085
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates					0
Intersegment revenues
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	(374,290)	(379,678)	(790,731)	(801,285)
Intersegment revenues | United ‎States ‎Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	365,177	372,536	772,817	786,879
Intersegment revenues | Central ‎American ‎Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	6,801	5,030	13,383	10,028
Intersegment revenues | Caribbean Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	1,137	1,333	2,651	2,777
Intersegment revenues | Colombia Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	1,175	779	1,880	1,601
Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	0		0
Depreciation, Property and equipment	0	0	0	0
Amortization, Intangibles	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	(39,933)	(33,908)	(77,499)	(63,783)
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.	(39,933)	(33,908)	(77,499)	(63,802)
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)	0	0	0	0	0
Goodwill	0	0	0	0	0
Total assets	0	0	0	0	0
Capital expenditures, net	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates					$ 0