SEGMENTS (Summary of Segment Revenues, Operating Costs and Balance Sheet Items) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
May 31, 2021
May 31, 2020
May 31, 2021
May 31, 2020
Aug. 31, 2020
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenue $ 895,264 $ 799,931 $ 2,710,265 $ 2,518,607  
Depreciation, Property and equipment 15,979 14,272 46,552 43,062  
Amortization, Intangibles 606 607 1,798 1,805  
Operating income (loss) 36,049 23,967 125,559 93,490  
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc. 22,529 12,705 78,502 58,033  
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets) 916,356 890,770 916,356 890,770 $ 880,780
Intangibles, net 8,368 10,772 8,368 10,772 10,166
Goodwill 45,142 45,316 45,142 45,316 45,206
Total assets 1,631,955 1,574,489 1,631,955 1,574,489 1,656,825
Capital expenditures, net 23,414 16,512 71,550 91,050  
United States Operations Segment [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenue 21,237 15,852 67,622 52,039  
Depreciation, Property and equipment 1,666 1,294 5,115 3,981  
Amortization, Intangibles 606 607 1,798 1,805  
Operating income (loss) 545 (1,115) 8,315 3,401  
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc. (2,388) (3,785) (4,306) (5,350)  
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets) 79,178 83,813 79,178 83,813 81,008
Intangibles, net 8,368 10,772 8,368 10,772 10,166
Goodwill 10,695 10,695 10,695 10,695 10,696
Total assets 202,770 224,682 202,770 224,682 272,190
Capital expenditures, net 3,334 1,446 6,052 5,564  
Central American Operations Segment [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenue 531,595 452,927 1,567,287 1,442,336  
Depreciation, Property and equipment 7,990 7,577 23,367 22,027  
Operating income (loss) 38,313 27,606 113,120 96,972  
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc. 32,700 22,724 94,247 79,815  
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets) 484,039 481,942 484,039 481,942 475,744
Goodwill 24,359 24,484 24,359 24,484 24,418
Total assets 777,703 727,527 777,703 727,527 741,523
Capital expenditures, net 8,724 9,395 30,334 42,766  
Caribbean Operations Segment [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenue [1] 243,468 250,304 762,153 747,004  
Depreciation, Property and equipment [1] 3,920 3,810 11,570 11,602  
Operating income (loss) [1] 17,240 13,547 59,600 40,436  
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc. [1] 13,524 10,849 48,175 34,978  
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets) [1] 189,873 181,578 189,873 181,578 177,166
Goodwill [1] 10,088 10,137 10,088 10,137 10,092
Total assets [1] 427,078 384,168 427,078 384,168 395,244
Capital expenditures, net [1] 6,486 2,163 14,748 13,913  
Colombia Operations Segment [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenue 98,964 80,848 313,203 277,228  
Depreciation, Property and equipment 2,403 1,591 6,500 5,452  
Operating income (loss) 5,135 3,487 17,139 13,411  
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc. 3,929 2,403 13,224 9,340  
Long-lived assets (other than deferred tax assets) 163,266 143,437 163,266 143,437 146,862
Total assets 224,404 238,112 224,404 238,112 $ 247,868
Capital expenditures, net 4,870 3,508 20,416 28,807  
Intersegment [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenue [2] (315,228) (237,952) (974,372) (886,379)  
Intersegment [Member] | United States Operations Segment [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenue (309,261) (230,826) (955,619) (868,137)  
Intersegment [Member] | Central American Operations Segment [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenue (4,305) (4,791) (12,842) (12,745)  
Intersegment [Member] | Caribbean Operations Segment [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenue [1] (1,228) (1,548) (3,498) (3,627)  
Intersegment [Member] | Colombia Operations Segment [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Revenue (434) (787) (2,413) (1,870)  
Reconciling Items [Member]          
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]          
Operating income (loss) [2] (25,184) (19,558) (72,615) (60,730)  
Net income (loss) attributable to PriceSmart Inc. [2] $ (25,236) $ (19,486) $ (72,838) $ (60,750)  
[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.