SEGMENTS (Schedule of Segment Revenues, Operating Costs and Balance Sheet Items) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2024	May 31, 2023	May 31, 2024	May 31, 2023	Aug. 31, 2023
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	$ 1,229,428	$ 1,096,654	$ 3,687,853	$ 3,293,649
Depreciation, property and equipment	21,129	17,821	61,114	52,499
Amortization, Intangibles				765
Operating income (loss)	49,909	43,052	171,740	152,379
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.	32,489	29,572	109,807	93,824
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)	1,123,447	1,014,726	1,123,447	1,014,726	$ 1,053,353
Goodwill	43,182	43,152	43,182	43,152	43,110
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates					10,479
Total assets	2,020,698	1,933,346	2,020,698	1,933,346	2,005,608
Capital expenditures, net	35,512	43,657	139,981	97,480
Operating Segments | United ‎States ‎Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	11,587	6,347	30,107	23,687
Depreciation, property and equipment	1,470	1,302	4,177	4,158
Amortization, Intangibles				765
Operating income (loss)	1,636	4,066	19,481	24,622
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.	(2,097)	2,336	4,320	9,440
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)	82,727	70,733	82,727	70,733	71,919
Goodwill	8,982	8,981	8,982	8,981	8,981
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates					0
Total assets	222,690	242,003	222,690	242,003	302,115
Capital expenditures, net	5,515	0	9,162	8,829
Operating Segments | Central ‎American ‎Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	744,626	669,691	2,225,507	1,992,980
Depreciation, property and equipment	11,036	9,349	31,734	27,073
Amortization, Intangibles				0
Operating income (loss)	54,874	46,023	173,086	152,786
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.	47,588	38,715	146,694	127,163
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)	605,453	543,410	605,453	543,410	566,139
Goodwill	24,159	24,127	24,159	24,127	24,083
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates					10,479
Total assets	1,060,211	963,929	1,060,211	963,929	995,881
Capital expenditures, net	17,216	24,384	90,488	52,695
Operating Segments | Caribbean Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	333,219	316,201	1,016,608	956,032
Depreciation, property and equipment	4,967	4,793	14,664	14,216
Amortization, Intangibles				0
Operating income (loss)	22,915	21,184	72,965	71,161
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.	18,707	17,091	58,807	56,799
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)	220,308	212,112	220,308	212,112	210,000
Goodwill	10,041	10,044	10,041	10,044	10,046
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates					0
Total assets	438,578	471,817	438,578	471,817	425,145
Capital expenditures, net	10,270	6,850	29,597	14,219
Operating Segments | Colombia Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	139,996	104,415	415,631	320,950
Depreciation, property and equipment	3,656	2,377	10,539	7,052
Amortization, Intangibles				0
Operating income (loss)	3,289	2,961	11,498	12,491
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.	1,096	2,612	5,276	9,103
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)	214,959	188,471	214,959	188,471	205,295
Goodwill	0	0	0	0	0
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates					0
Total assets	299,219	255,597	299,219	255,597	282,467
Capital expenditures, net	2,511	12,423	10,734	21,737
Intersegment Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	(442,025)	(378,863)	(1,343,220)	(1,169,594)
Intersegment Eliminations | United ‎States ‎Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	430,236	368,675	1,311,880	1,141,492
Intersegment Eliminations | Central ‎American ‎Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	8,777	7,343	23,331	20,726
Intersegment Eliminations | Caribbean Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	1,597	1,527	4,305	4,178
Intersegment Eliminations | Colombia Operations
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	1,415	1,318	3,704	3,198
Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenue from external customers	0	0	0	0
Depreciation, property and equipment	0	0	0	0
Amortization, Intangibles				0
Operating income (loss)	(32,805)	(31,182)	(105,290)	(108,681)
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart, Inc.	(32,805)	(31,182)	(105,290)	(108,681)
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets)	0	0	0	0	0
Goodwill	0	0	0	0	0
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates					0
Total assets	0	0	0	0	$ 0
Capital expenditures, net	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0