COMPANY OVERVIEW AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION	12 Months Ended
Aug. 31, 2017
COMPANY OVERVIEW AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION [Abstract]
COMPANY OVERVIEW AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION	NOTE 1 – COMPANY OVERVIEW AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION PriceSmart, Inc.’s (“PriceSmart,” the “Company,” or "we") business consists primarily of international membership shopping warehouse clubs similar to, but smaller in size than, warehouse clubs in the United States. As of August 31, 2017, the Company had 39 consolidated warehouse clubs in operation in 12 countries and one U.S. territory (seven in Colombia; six in Costa Rica; five in Panama; four in Trinidad; three each in Guatemala, Honduras and the Dominican Republic; two each in El Salvador and Nicaragua; and one each in Aruba, Barbados, Jamaica, and the United States Virgin Islands), of which the Company owns 100% of the corresponding legal entities (see Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies). The Company opened a new warehouse club in Chia, Colombia in September 2016, fiscal year 2017, bringing the total of warehouse clubs operating in Colombia to seven. The Company opened a new warehouse club in Managua, Nicaragua in November 2015, fiscal year 2016, bringing the total of warehouse clubs operating in Nicaragua to two. In February 2017 the Company acquired land in Santa Ana, Costa Rica upon which the Company opened a new warehouse club on October 5, 2017. This new warehouse club brings the number of PriceSmart warehouse clubs operating in Costa Rica to seven. In June 2017, the Company acquired land in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The Company is currently building a warehouse club on this site that the Company expects to open in the spring of calendar year 2018. This will bring the number of PriceSmart warehouse clubs operating in Dominican Republic to four. The Company continues to explore other potential sites for future warehouse clubs in Central America, the Caribbean and Colombia. Basis of Presentation - The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of PriceSmart, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries have been eliminated in consolidation.

NOTE 1 – COMPANY OVERVIEW AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

PriceSmart, Inc.’s (“PriceSmart,” the “Company,” or "we") business consists primarily of international membership shopping warehouse clubs similar to, but smaller in size than, warehouse clubs in the United States. As of August 31, 2017, the Company had 39 consolidated warehouse clubs in operation in 12 countries and one U.S. territory (seven in Colombia; six in Costa Rica; five in Panama; four in Trinidad; three each in Guatemala, Honduras and the Dominican Republic; two each in El Salvador and Nicaragua; and one each in Aruba, Barbados, Jamaica, and the United States Virgin Islands), of which the Company owns 100% of the corresponding legal entities (see Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies). The Company opened a new warehouse club in Chia, Colombia in September 2016, fiscal year 2017, bringing the total of warehouse clubs operating in Colombia to seven. The Company opened a new warehouse club in Managua, Nicaragua in November 2015, fiscal year 2016, bringing the total of warehouse clubs operating in Nicaragua to two. In February 2017 the Company acquired land in Santa Ana, Costa Rica upon which the Company opened a new warehouse club on October 5, 2017. This new warehouse club brings the number of PriceSmart warehouse clubs operating in Costa Rica to seven. In June 2017, the Company acquired land in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The Company is currently building a warehouse club on this site that the Company expects to open in the spring of calendar year 2018. This will bring the number of PriceSmart warehouse clubs operating in Dominican Republic to four.

The Company continues to explore other potential sites for future warehouse clubs in Central America, the Caribbean and Colombia.

Basis of Presentation - The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of PriceSmart, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries have been eliminated in consolidation.